 Charles Arbuthnot Crombie DSO , DFC ( 16 March 1914 – 26 August 1945 ) was an Australian aviator and flying ace of the Second World War . Born in Brisbane , he was working as a <unk> when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in May 1940 . Completing flight training in Australia and Canada , he flew in the European , Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre and South @-@ East Asian theatres , amassing a tally of 12 Axis aircraft shot down , with an additional four probables . In a particular attack on 19 January 1943 , Crombie intercepted a formation of four Japanese bombers over India . Despite his aircraft being set alight early in the engagement , he shot down two of the bombers and severely damaged a third before he was forced to bail out . He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for this action . Returning to Australia late in 1943 , he was promoted to squadron leader and posted as a flight instructor with No. 5 Operational Training Unit . Crombie was killed in a flying accident in August 1945 . 
