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William Brill (RAAF officer)

William Lloyd Brill
Half portrait of man in dark military uniform with life vest, flying cap, goggles and oxygen mask
Wing Commander Brill, July 1944
Born 17 May 1916
Ganmain, New South Wales
Died 12 October 1964(1964-10-12) (aged 48)
Campbell, Australian Capital Territory
Allegiance Australia
Service/branch Australian Military Forces
Royal Australian Air Force
Years of service 1939–64
Rank Group Captain
Unit 21st Light Horse (1939–40)
No. 460 Squadron (1942)
No. 463 Squadron (1944)
Commands held No. 467 Squadron (1944)
No. 10 Squadron (1949–50)
Officer Training School (1953–56)
RAAF Base Canberra (1959)
RAAF Base Townsville (1964)
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar
Other work Farmer

World War II

William Lloyd Brill, DSO, DFC & Bar (17 May 1916 – 12 October 1964) was a senior officer and bomber pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Born in the Riverina district of New South Wales, he was a farmer and a member of the Militia before joining the RAAF in 1940. After training in Australia and Canada, he was posted to Britain in 1941 to take part in the air war over Europe. Brill first saw combat with No. 460 Squadron RAAF, flying Vickers Wellington medium bombers. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in May 1942 for attacking a target after his plane was badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire. Following assignment as an instructor with the Royal Air Force (RAF), he returned to the bombing campaign in January 1944 as a flight commander with No. 463 Squadron RAAF, flying Avro Lancaster heavy bombers.

Brill's leadership and determination to complete his missions despite damage to his aircraft—on one occasion inflicted by another Lancaster's bombs from above—earned him the Distinguished Service Order. Promoted to wing commander in May 1944, he took over No. 467 Squadron RAAF after the death in combat of its then-commander, Group Captain John Balmer. Brill was awarded a bar to his DFC in July, for his skill in evading three German night fighters. Returning to Australia, he remained in the Air Force after the war and led No. 10 Squadron in 1949–50. He went on to command air bases at Rathmines, Canberra and Townsville during the 1950s and 1960s. Brill served two terms as RAAF Director of Personnel Services, in 1956–59 and 1960–63, by which time he had been promoted to group captain. His final posting was at the Department of Air in Canberra. He died of a heart attack in October 1964.


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