Peter Ottewill

Who was Peter Ottewill?

Peter Guy Ottewill, GM was an English RAF officer who during the Second World War in 1943 rescued two airmen from a Bristol Beaufighter which had crashed into an ammunition store at Kirknewton Scotland during take-off, and was awarded the George Medal.

Educated at John Roan School, he joined the RAF in 1931. Initially an armourer, he trained as a Hurricane pilot, serving with 43 Squadron at the evacuation of Dunkirk; and was one of the first servicemen ever to have plastic surgery. The George Medal citation said:

After the war he was seconded to the Royal Australian Air Force and served in Korea. He was then a Staff Officer with 2nd Tactical Air Force and worked at NATO headquarters before his final post as a Station commander.