Peter Raw

Who was Peter Raw?

Air Commodore Peter Frank Raw DSO, DFC, AFC was a Royal Australian Air Force pilot and officer. He joined the RAAF in 1941, and served as a flight instructor, bomber pilot and the commander of a communications unit during World War II. After the war he became a specialist navigator. He was appointed the commander of No. 2 Squadron in January 1953, but temporarily left this position for part of the year to participate in the 1953 London to Christchurch air race, and placed second when the race was conducted in October. He returned to lead No. 2 Squadron at the end of 1953 and held this position until 1955.

Raw subsequently served in staff and diplomatic roles until 1965, when he took command of No. 82 Wing. Between May 1966 and April 1967, he served in the Vietnam War as the air support coordinator for the Australian forces in South Vietnam; his initial refusal to commit RAAF helicopters to support the Australian Army force ambushed during the Battle of Long Tan generated lasting controversy. Raw served in various staff and training positions until 1972, when he was appointed the commander of RAAF Base Butterworth. He returned to Australia in 1976 and retired from the RAAF two years later.