Roberts Dunstan

Roberts Christian "Bob" Dunstan DSO (5 November 1922 – 11 October 1989) was an Australian soldier and aviator during the Second World War. He was notable, among other things, for: serving with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as an air gunner, after losing a leg in action with the Australian Army; being the youngest Australian recipient of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), and; being, at the time he was elected, the youngest ever member of the Legislative Assembly of Victoria.

Dunstan was born in Bendigo, Victoria on 5 November 1922 and attended Geelong Grammar School between 1934 and 1939.

Australian Army On 3 June 1940, five months before his 18th birthday, Dunstan joined the Australian Imperial Force.

After training with the Royal Australian Engineers, he was posted as a reinforcement to the 2/8th Field Company, in North Africa.

Dunstan completed a full tour of 30 operations and returned to Australia in August 1944.

He was discharged from the Royal Australian Air Force on 2 October 1945.

Politician, journalist and film critic Dunstan attracted the attention of the media due to the unique nature of his experiences: an army and air force veteran, who had completed a full tour of 30 missions despite being an amputee.