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on 21 May 1916, one of seven children born to Edward Henry
Ekanayake Ameresekere and Joslina Ameresekere (née de Silva Samarasinghe Siriwardena). He was orphaned at the age of four and was brought up by his uncle and aunt, Victor and Eda de Silva Siriwardena and later lived with his eldest sister,
592:
The citation for the bar to his DFC reads "This officer has completed the second tour of the operational duty. In
December, 1944 on route to Essen his aircraft was engaged by searchlights and heavy anti-aircraft fire causing severe damage to the aircraft. Despite shell splinters entering his
583:
The citation for his DFC reads "This officer has displayed a high degree of courage and determination in navigating his aircraft to the target and back, often under great difficulties. In
November 1943 whilst on a flight to a distant target, the oxygen supply failed early in the sortie. P/O.
481:
Rohan
Ameresekere died on 20 March 1974 at the young age of 57, and is survived by his widow Aloma (née Dender) whom he had married on 12 November 1958, and by his son and daughter. He was accorded a funeral with full military honours by the Government of Sri Lanka.
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compartment Flying
Officer Ameresekere took evasive action and completed his allotted task. His other targets have been Ruhr Valley, Chemnitz and Hanover. On all occasions FO Ameresekere had a set a fine example by his tenacity and devotion to duty".
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Ameresekere, though suffering from lack of oxygen and extreme cold continued his duties and the mission was successfully completed. This officer has proved himself to be a navigator of outstanding ability.".
1103:
387:, Ceylon as an interpreter until August 1946. He was released from service in July 1946 and resigned his commission on 4 November 1946 with permission to retain the rank Flight Lieutenant.
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from
January to December 1961. He then served as Senior Air Staff Officer, Air Headquarters from April 1962 to November 1962. During this time he played a major role during the
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in May 1942, followed by posting to the 1 Advanced Flying Unit in
September 1942. In November 1942, he was mustered as a Air Navigator with promotion to temporary
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399:, while on leave from the RAF, and on 1 October 1950, he was promoted to Acting Airport Controller and attended training courses in the United Kingdom.
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in
Colombo in May 1955 and thereafter Chief of Staff, Air Headquarters from May 1955 to December 1960. During which he was promoted to the rank of
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434:. In 1953, he attended the Officers Advance Training School Course, the Long Photographic Intelligence course, and the Staff College course at
1118:
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469:, becoming the first Ceylonese to hold the appointment. He was confirmed in the rank of Air Commodore on 1 January 1964 and promoted to
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Ameresekere joined the
Department of Civil Aviation on 20 August 1946 as the Assistant Aerodrome Officer (Flying Control) at the
812:"Ameresekere was a daring pilot He flew bombing raids over Hitler's Germany By Wijitha NAKKAWITA Sunday Onbservor, 8 March 2009"
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on 19 September 1940, was selected and left for
England with the first batch of RAF Recruits from Ceylon in June 1941 on the
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on 1 October 1967. He retired from the RCyAF on 31 December 1970 and was succeeded by Air Commodore Paddy Mendis.
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He left this department on 15 May 1951 to join the newly formed Royal Ceylon Air Force under the command of
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gaining is wings and was attached to the General Duties (Pilot) branch. He later trained in the
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Hyacinth and her husband, Ashley Peiris at 'Ash Court', Kegalle. He received his education at
1038:
790:"AVM Ekanayake Edward (Rohan) Ameresekere DFC & Bar. R.Cy.A.F. By Charles M. Ameresekere"
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and posted to 10 OTU in Abingdon, Berkshire. There after he was sent to HCU to convert from
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Ameresekere received a DFC and Bar for his war time service with the RAF as well as the
271:(1929–32), St. Mary's College, Kegalle (1933–34) and at the Pembroke Academy (1935–39).
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to the Distinguished Flying Cross. He returned to Ceylon in early 1946 and served at
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returning to Ceylon in 1954. He then served as the Senior Air Staff Officer at the
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OHLMUS -A F MEMOIRS Air Vice Marshal E R Ameresekere, DFC& Bar, RCyAF
518:. His ceremonial sword and miniatures of his medals are on display at the
414:, an officer seconded from the RAF. On 15 May 1951 he was commissioned as
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303:. On reaching the United Kingdom in September 1941, he was enlisted as a
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but went back to his old squadron. Ameresekere was promoted to
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on 1 July 1959. He attended the Senior Officers Course at the
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Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II
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611:"World War II Database Rohan Ameresekere by C. Peter Chen"
686:"SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 15 FEBRUARY, 1944"
418:(Service number 01002) and promoted to the rank of
461:On 13 November 1962, he was promoted to Temporary
355:(serial number 155926). In 1943 he transferred to
1099:Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies
375:, serving till 1945. In 1945, he was promoted to
222:(21 May 1916 – 20 March 1974) was a senior
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764:"Air Vice Marshal E R Amarasekara DFC & BAR"
711:"The London Gazette Tuesday 17th December 1946"
422:with effect from the same date. He trained on
903:
633:"The London Gazette Tuesday 12th October1943"
1109:Ceylonese military personnel of World War II
506:. Whilst in RCyAF, Ameresekere received the
249:
1124:Sri Lankan emigrants to the United Kingdom
910:
896:
234:. He previously served he had served as a
446:on 1 October 1955, followed by promotion
402:
339:. He was commissioned while serving with
516:Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal
508:Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal
870:Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force
467:Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force
367:on 29 January 1944 and was awarded the
232:Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force
1084:Royal Air Force pilots of World War II
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919:Commanders of the Sri Lankan Air Force
1074:Sri Lanka Air Force air vice-marshals
1069:Commanders of the Sri Lanka Air Force
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498:with the France and Germany Bar, the
167:Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force
512:Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
335:in Yorkshire which was part of the
331:. In June 1943, he was assigned to
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13:
1119:Alumni of Kingswood College, Kandy
456:1962 Ceylonese coup d'état attempt
210:Ekanayake Edward Rohan Ameresekere
187:Distinguished Flying Cross and BAR
35:Ekanayake Edward Rohan Ameresekere
16:Royal Ceylon Air Force air marshal
14:
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1114:Alumni of Wesley College, Colombo
842:A Dedication to Rohan Ameresekere
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588:Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross
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309:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
94:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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1129:Sinhalese military personnel
465:and was appointed the third
325:Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys
317:Empire Air Navigation School
7:
371:. In August 1944 he joined
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579:Distinguished Flying Cross
520:Sri Lanka Air Force Museum
436:RAF Staff College, Andover
369:Distinguished Flying Cross
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230:. He served as the third
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452:Imperial Defense College
269:Kingswood College, Kandy
254:Ameresekere was born in
250:Early life and education
199:Kingswood College, Kandy
295:he applied to join the
265:Wesley College, Colombo
60:20 March 1974 (aged 57)
430:under the guidance of
403:Royal Ceylon Air Force
228:Royal Ceylon Air Force
104:Royal Ceylon Air Force
770:. Sri Lanka Air Force
315:he was posted to the
110:Years of service
837:Air Force Commanders
739:"The London Gazette"
661:"The London Gazette"
496:Air Crew Europe Star
379:and was awarded the
329:Handley Page Halifax
285:Ceylon Defence Force
814:. sundayobserver.lk
313:Leading aircraftman
307:(2nd Class) in the
283:Ameresekere joined
792:. ceylonmedals.com
718:The London Gazette
690:The London Gazette
640:The London Gazette
347:, General Duties (
337:RAF Bomber Command
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886:
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877:Succeeded by
855:Military offices
744:. 4 December 1945
666:. 4 February 1944
397:Ratmalana Airport
377:Flight Lieutenant
279:With outbreak of
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880:Paddy Mendis
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863:J. L. Barker
816:. Retrieved
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432:Paddy Mendis
406:
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289:Rex de Silva
281:World War II
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244:World War II
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177:World War II
173:Battles/wars
18:
1094:1974 deaths
1089:1916 births
1009:Gunathilake
997:Goonetileke
973:Gunawardena
955:Goonatilake
943:Amerasekera
818:22 November
796:22 November
774:17 December
768:airforce.lk
748:22 November
723:22 November
695:22 November
670:22 November
645:22 November
617:22 November
613:. ww2db.com
486:Decorations
428:Jet Provost
305:Aircraftman
267:(1925–29),
44:21 May 1916
1063:Categories
1021:Jayampathy
985:Weerakkody
979:Ranasinghe
874:1962-1970
597:References
194:Alma mater
113:1942-1946,
73:Allegiance
1039:Rajapaksa
1033:Pathirana
504:War Medal
424:Chipmunks
385:RAF Kandy
351:) Branch
349:Navigator
301:SS Exeter
236:navigator
115:1951-1970
67:Sri Lanka
967:Fernando
514:and the
502:and the
321:Sergeant
163:Commands
96:(Ceylon)
83:Service/
359:of the
256:Kegalle
242:during
238:in the
226:in the
224:officer
126:(RCyAF)
63:Colombo
47:Kegalle
991:Perera
961:Perera
949:Mendis
937:Barker
931:Bladon
510:, the
494:, the
260:Ceylon
217:&
183:Awards
85:branch
77:Ceylon
51:Ceylon
742:(PDF)
714:(PDF)
664:(PDF)
636:(PDF)
477:Death
353:RAFVR
343:as a
131:(RAF)
1027:Dias
820:2012
798:2012
776:2021
750:2012
725:2012
697:2012
672:2012
647:2012
619:2012
291:and
148:Unit
120:Rank
57:Died
41:Born
1037:19
1031:18
1025:17
1019:16
1013:15
1007:14
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989:11
983:10
381:Bar
327:to
219:Bar
215:DFC
30:BAR
26:DFC
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
