W/Cdr. Birchfield other awards: Air Force Cross - 30th September 1941, OBE - 01st January 1945, 1939-45 Star, Defence medal, Victory medal, General Service Malaya and Air Crew Europe medal.
OBE Citation: W/Cdr. Birchfield was employed on the staff of Allied Expeditionary Air Force from its inception, being employed on Air Staff Plans. His work both current and future operations, but in particular he was associated with the the preparation of specially secret Inter-Service and Inter-Allied Schemes of the utmost importance to the success of the entire operations on the continent. This called for a spirit of co-operation, long hours and much initiative. His work greatly contributed to the success of the Normandy Landings on “D” Day.
Gloster Javelin XA570 took off from RAF Odiham on a night interception exercise at 23:22 hrs. on the 11th June, 1956. At the controls was Wing Commander Frank Birchfield, a highly regarded pilot, with F/O. Brian Chambers as his Navigator.
After carrying out the exercise successfully, the pilot called the approach control at 23:59 hrs and commenced let down back at RAF Odiham. At a range of 1.75 miles he reported that he was in visual contact with the airfield, but at 00:07 his transmission ceased abruptly. The Javelin had struck the ground in a small wooded hillside 1.5 miles East South East of the runway threshold, and both of the crew were killed instantly by the impact, the aircraft did not catch fire. The wreckage was discovered at 05:00 hrs by a search and rescue helicopter.
OBE Citation: W/Cdr. Birchfield was employed on the staff of Allied Expeditionary Air Force from its inception, being employed on Air Staff Plans. His work both current and future operations, but in particular he was associated with the the preparation of specially secret Inter-Service and Inter-Allied Schemes of the utmost importance to the success of the entire operations on the continent. This called for a spirit of co-operation, long hours and much initiative. His work greatly contributed to the success of the Normandy Landings on “D” Day.
Gloster Javelin XA570 took off from RAF Odiham on a night interception exercise at 23:22 hrs. on the 11th June, 1956. At the controls was Wing Commander Frank Birchfield, a highly regarded pilot, with F/O. Brian Chambers as his Navigator.
After carrying out the exercise successfully, the pilot called the approach control at 23:59 hrs and commenced let down back at RAF Odiham. At a range of 1.75 miles he reported that he was in visual contact with the airfield, but at 00:07 his transmission ceased abruptly. The Javelin had struck the ground in a small wooded hillside 1.5 miles East South East of the runway threshold, and both of the crew were killed instantly by the impact, the aircraft did not catch fire. The wreckage was discovered at 05:00 hrs by a search and rescue helicopter.
W/Cdr. Birchfield other awards: Air Force Cross - 30th September 1941, OBE - 01st January 1945, 1939-45 Star, Defence medal, Victory medal, General Service Malaya and Air Crew Europe medal.
OBE Citation: W/Cdr. Birchfield was employed on the staff of Allied Expeditionary Air Force from its inception, being employed on Air Staff Plans. His work both current and future operations, but in particular he was associated with the the preparation of specially secret Inter-Service and Inter-Allied Schemes of the utmost importance to the success of the entire operations on the continent. This called for a spirit of co-operation, long hours and much initiative. His work greatly contributed to the success of the Normandy Landings on “D” Day.
Gloster Javelin XA570 took off from RAF Odiham on a night interception exercise at 23:22 hrs. on the 11th June, 1956. At the controls was Wing Commander Frank Birchfield, a highly regarded pilot, with F/O. Brian Chambers as his Navigator.
After carrying out the exercise successfully, the pilot called the approach control at 23:59 hrs and commenced let down back at RAF Odiham. At a range of 1.75 miles he reported that he was in visual contact with the airfield, but at 00:07 his transmission ceased abruptly. The Javelin had struck the ground in a small wooded hillside 1.5 miles East South East of the runway threshold, and both of the crew were killed instantly by the impact, the aircraft did not catch fire. The wreckage was discovered at 05:00 hrs by a search and rescue helicopter.
OBE Citation: W/Cdr. Birchfield was employed on the staff of Allied Expeditionary Air Force from its inception, being employed on Air Staff Plans. His work both current and future operations, but in particular he was associated with the the preparation of specially secret Inter-Service and Inter-Allied Schemes of the utmost importance to the success of the entire operations on the continent. This called for a spirit of co-operation, long hours and much initiative. His work greatly contributed to the success of the Normandy Landings on “D” Day.
Gloster Javelin XA570 took off from RAF Odiham on a night interception exercise at 23:22 hrs. on the 11th June, 1956. At the controls was Wing Commander Frank Birchfield, a highly regarded pilot, with F/O. Brian Chambers as his Navigator.
After carrying out the exercise successfully, the pilot called the approach control at 23:59 hrs and commenced let down back at RAF Odiham. At a range of 1.75 miles he reported that he was in visual contact with the airfield, but at 00:07 his transmission ceased abruptly. The Javelin had struck the ground in a small wooded hillside 1.5 miles East South East of the runway threshold, and both of the crew were killed instantly by the impact, the aircraft did not catch fire. The wreckage was discovered at 05:00 hrs by a search and rescue helicopter.
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