Archibald Wilson

Air Marshal Archibald Oliver Garfield Wilson ICD OBE DFC (USA) (28 May 1921 – 4 July 2014) was a Rhodesian fighter pilot who served in the Royal Air Force during World War II. He went on to become a senior commander and then Air Marshal in the Rhodesian Air Force in the 1960s and early 1970s. After retirement, he served two terms in the Rhodesian House of Assembly, in the Zimbabwe-Rhodesian Parliament in 1979, and then in the Zimbabwe Parliament in 1981–1982. He held several cabinet portfolios prior to the Internal Settlement. He resigned in 1982 to emigrate, with his wife Lorna, to Australia's Gold Coast in 1982. He became a citizen of Australia in 1988.[1]

For other people named Archibald Wilson, see Archibald Wilson (disambiguation).

Air Marshal
Archibald Wilson
ICD OBE
  • Minister of Posts
  • Minister of Roads and Road Traffic
  • Minister of Transport and Power
In office
10 March 1977 – 1978
Prime MinisterIan Smith
Preceded byRoger Hawkins
Succeeded byWilliam Irvine
Member of the House of Assembly of Rhodesia for Arundel
In office
30 July 1974 – 10 April 1979
Preceded byAndrew Skeen
Succeeded byAbolished
Member of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe Rhodesia
(White non-constituency member)
In office
10 April 1979 – 11 December 1979
Senator of the Senate of Zimbabwe
In office
11 February 1981 – July 1982
Preceded byDouglas Hamilton Ritchie
Succeeded byEsme Scott
Personal details
Born28 May 1921
Bulawayo, Rhodesia
Died4 July 2014(2014-07-04) (aged 93)
Pinjarra Hills, Queensland, Australia
Political partyRhodesian Front
Spouse
Lorna Alexandra Wilson
​
​
(died 2008)​
Military service
Allegiance
Branch/service
Years of service1939–1973
RankAir Marshal
CommandsRRAF Thornhill (1957–1959)
Battles/wars
AwardsIndependence Commemorative Decoration ICD Order of the British Empire OBE 1939–45 Star ' Italy Star ' Defence Medal (United Kingdom) ' War Medal 1939–1945 ' General Service Medal ' Distinguished Flying Cross DFC

Air force career

Wilson joined the Southern Rhodesian Air Force in 1939.[1] He served in World War II as a pilot and then as Officer Commanding No. 238 Squadron from 1943.[2] After the War he held command positions in Southern Rhodesian Air Force (later the Royal Rhodesian Air Force and the Rhodesian Air Force). From 10 June 1957 to 22 June 1959, he was commanding officer of RRAF Thornhill.[3] Wilson was involved in directing the Rhodesian counter-insurgency operations in Nyasaland, Zambia and Rhodesia.

On 8 February 1969 Wilson was appointed Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Rhodesian Air Force, receiving promotion to the rank of Air vice-marshal. With Rhodesia becoming a republic from 2 March 1970, Wilson oversaw various changes to the force and his role, including new ranks, ensign, roundel, and the renaming of the force from 8 August 1970 as the "Rhodesian Air Force" (RhAF). At the same time his office of Chief of the Air Staff was changed to Commander of the Air Force, and Wilson was promoted to the rank of Air marshal.[4] In 1970–71 Wilson was involved in the development of the secret Alcora Exercise military alliance between Rhodesia, South Africa and Portugal.[5] On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the 1947 formation of the Southern Rhodesia Air Force in November 1972, Wilson announced: "Our Air Force will continue to fulfil its role with quiet efficiency and is ready and able to do its duty – come what may."[6]

After 32 years, Wilson retired from Air Force service on 15 April 1973, being the last remaining member of the original Southern Rhodesia Air Force and the last Chief of the Air Staff.[7] On his retirement he expressed a hopeful tone: "Terrorism in Rhodesia will probably get worse before it gets better but the security forces will win. Terrorism cannot win. It cannot achieve its aim."[7]

Politics

As a member of Ian Smith's Rhodesian Front, Wilson was elected to the House of Assembly as the member for Arundel at the Rhodesian general election in 1974. He retained his seat during the 1977 general election.[1]

Later life

After resigning from the Senate in July 1982, Wilson decided to emigrate with his wife Lorna to Australia in August 1982. Wilson and his family settled in the Gold Coast region of Queensland, receiving Australian citizenship on 25 October 1988. With his wife Lorna predeceasing him (27 July 1923 – 22 August 2008) when she died in Brisbane at age 85, Wilson spent his last few years in the RSL Care retirement community in Pinjarra Hills until his death at the age of 93 on 4 July 2014.[8] He is buried with his wife in Tamborine Mountain Cemetery.

Honours
Award
(Ribbon / Description)		Notes
Independence Commemorative Decoration ICD Independence Commemorative Decoration (ICD) 11 November 1970[9]
Order of the British Empire OBE Order of the British Empire (OBE) (OBE; Military Division) NY 1961[10]
1939–45 Star ' 1939–45 Star
Italy Star ' Italy Star
Defence Medal (United Kingdom) ' Defence Medal (United Kingdom)
War Medal 1939–1945 ' War Medal 1939–1945
General Service Medal ' General Service Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

References
  1. "RAAF Museum: Air Crew Association Member's Service Profile: Archie Wilson". Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  2. Birmingham, John (22 November 2012). "Archie, his fighter planes and his gift to us all". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 29 November 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  3. "Thornhill Air Station - Rhodesian Air Force, 1955 - 1980". Rhodesian Forces Web Site. Rhodesia Army Association. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  4. "A Brief History: The Rhodesian Air Force". Rhodesian Forces Web Site. Rhodesia Army Association. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  5. de Meneses, Filipe Ribeiro; McNamara, Robert (2018). "4 (Building the 'White Redoubt')". The White Redoubt, the Great Powers and the Struggle for Southern Africa, 1960–1980 (PDF). London: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 129. doi:10.1057/978-1-137-44758-6. ISBN 978-1-137-44757-9. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  6. "25th Birthday of the Rhodesian Air Force". Rhodesian Forces Web Site. Rhodesia Army Association. 28 November 1972. Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  7. Salt, Beryl (2000). A Pride of Eagles: A History of the Rhodesian Air Force (2015 ed.). Helion & Company; 30 South Publishers (Pty) Ltd. pp. 494–495. ISBN 978-1-908916-26-6.
  8. "Passing of Air Marshal Archie Wilson". ORAFs - Old Rhodesian Air Force Sods. Google Groups. 6 July 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  9. Saffery, David (2006). The Rhodesia Medal Roll: Honours and Decorations of the Rhodesian Conflict 1970-1981. Jeppestown Press. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-9553936-0-0.
  10. "No. 42235". The London Gazette (5th supplement). 27 December 1960. p. 8935.
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