Francis McNamara Australian soldier, pilot, winner of the Victoria Cross - the highest military award for courage in the face of the enemy in the British and Commonwealth forces. Date of Birth: 04.04.1894 Country: Australia

Biography of Francis McNamara

Francis McNamara was an Australian military pilot and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military honor for bravery in the face of the enemy in the British and Commonwealth forces. Born in Rushworth, Victoria, McNamara was the oldest of eight children of William Francis McNamara and his wife Rosanna. In 1910, the family moved to Melbourne, where Francis joined the cadet ranks in 1911. He later underwent pedagogical training and taught in various schools in Victoria. McNamara also enrolled at the University of Melbourne but had to put his studies on hold when World War I began.

As a volunteer officer, McNamara was called up soon after the war was declared. After serving for a while, he attended officer training courses and later became an instructor himself. In July, McNamara was promoted to lieutenant and voluntarily joined the Royal Flying Corps. With additional training, he became a pilot in a short span of time, earning his pilot's license by October. McNamara participated in reconnaissance missions and aerial attacks, often flying over the Sinai region.

On March 20, 1917, McNamara, along with three other pilots, embarked on an attack on a Turkish railway junction. Instead of traditional bombs, their planes were equipped with special projectiles. McNamara successfully dropped three of these projectiles but the fourth one exploded prematurely, seriously injuring his leg and causing significant deafness. As he returned to base, McNamara saw his comrade, David Rutherford's plane crash. Despite his own injury, McNamara decided to help his fellow pilot and landed his plane nearby. Since there was no room inside the plane, Rutherford had to ride on the wing. However, their takeoff was unsuccessful due to the extra weight and poor placement, causing McNamara's plane to crash. While both McNamara and Rutherford were unharmed, they headed towards Rutherford's plane after setting fire to McNamara's. McNamara defended themselves with gunfire against the approaching Turkish soldiers, while two other comrades provided cover from the air. McNamara managed to start the engine and, barely alive due to blood loss and pain, flew the plane back to a base 110 kilometers away from the crash site.

In the hospital, McNamara narrowly escaped death from an unexpected allergic reaction to a standard tetanus infection. Surprisingly, he recovered quickly. McNamara's comrades praised his bravery, and he was awarded the Victoria Cross, becoming the first and only Australian pilot to receive this honor. Between the World Wars, McNamara continued to serve in the Royal Australian Air Force. He obtained a position in the newly formed Australian Air Force after the dissolution of the old system and served as an officer. McNamara spent two years in the United Kingdom, working in exchange with the Royal Air Force. He returned to Australia in November 1927 and quickly obtained a new position. McNamara also pursued his education during this time, completing a course in international relations at the University of Melbourne, receiving his bachelor's degree through correspondence.

At the start of World War II, McNamara was serving in London as an Air Force liaison officer in the Australian diplomatic mission. After several reassignments, he was sent to the Aden Protectorate. From a military perspective, the location was relatively distant from the main conflicts, with most of the local military hunting submarines and escorting convoys. As the commander of the aviation unit, McNamara tried to fly on missions whenever possible, often serving as an observer. In 1945, he received the Order of the Bath, and by March, he returned to London. In March, McNamara faced a significant blow when Roy Drummond, one of the participants in the memorable story of rescuing David Rutherford, died. Drummond's plane disappeared near the Azores Islands on its way to Canada, and everyone on board was declared dead. McNamara personally delivered the news to Drummond's widow. The war also took a toll on McNamara's health, with the sands of Aden significantly affecting him, leading to a delay in receiving his next assignment. However, he eventually became a representative of the Royal Australian Air Force in the Ministry of Defense. In 1946, McNamara left the Royal Air Force, along with several other senior officers and World War I veterans. Officially, this was done to rejuvenate the Air Force with a influx of young and talented officers. Nevertheless, the significance of McNamara's position at that time diminished greatly. McNamara spent some time working in education in the British occupation zone. Even after completing his work, he remained in England. From 1947 to 1959, he held a position in the National Coal Board.

Francis McNamara passed away on November 2, 1961, due to hypertensive heart failure. He was 67 years old at the time of his death, survived by his wife and two children. The Victoria Cross, which belonged to McNamara, did not return to Australia. Disappointed with his country due to his dismissal from the Air Force and meager compensation from the government, McNamara instructed that the medal be donated to the Royal Air Force Museum in Britain.