Robert Yaxley

Group Captain Robert Gordon Yaxley, (1912 – 3 June 1943) was a Royal Air Force pilot and commander during the Second World War.

Early life Yaxley was born in Bath, Somerset, the son of Robert and Agnes Elizabeth Yaxley. After attending the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, he was commissioned into the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a pilot officer on 4 September 1934, with seniority of 28 July 1934. He served with the RAF's No. 2 Armoured Car Company in the 1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine, and was awarded the Military Cross on 6 November 1936. He had been promoted to the rank of flying officer on 28 January 1936.

Second World War At the beginning of the Second World War, Yaxley was serving with No. 252 Squadron RAF and by December 1940 he was the unit's commander. On 9 September 1941 he was promoted to wing commander, and took command of No. 272 Squadron, a unit equipped with Bristol Beaufighter heavy fighters. On 17 October 1941 Yaxley was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his command of a raiding detachment of fighter aircraft. The citation for the award read:

This was followed by the award of the Distinguished Service Order on 12 December 1941 for his leadership in the Western Desert Campaign. The decoration was the first awarded during the campaign in Libya, and was announced with the following citation: Quote|Since the operations in the Western Desert commenced this officer has led his squadron with conspicuous success. Enemy airdromes far west of the battle area as Benghazi, have been attacked daily and other serious damage has been inflicted on the enemy. On the opening day of the operations a number of Junkers 52 aircraft carrying troops were encountered and seven of them were shot down. In addition to a daily toll of enemy aircraft destroyed, heavy casualties have been inflicted on ground crews, while lines of communication have been harassed and petrol tankers set on fire. Altogether, within a space of six days operations, no fewer than 46 of the enemy's aircraft were destroyed. Much of the brilliant success achieved can be attributed to the courageous leadership and determination displayed by Wing Commander Yaxley. Throughout he has set a magnificent example. His plane, carrying several passengers including Osgood Hanbury, was shot down by a German Junkers Ju 88 C flown by Lieutenant Hans Olbrecht.