Ruskin-Rowe, Anthony 'Tony'
Anthony (Tony) Thomas Ruskin-Rowe
Pilot Officer, RAAF
Number 411389, 452 Squadron
Tony's father was a prominent Sydney architect who was responsible for many, now heritage listed, Sydney buildings including the Commonwealth Bank building in Martin Place. Tony was the manager of the family sheep station at Warren, NSE and enlisted in 1941.
Commonwealth Bank, Martin Place, Sydney.
He served firstly with No 131 Squadron RAF which initially had a number of Belgian pilots and was formed at RAF Ouston, Northumberland, UK. When operational the squadron engaged in fighter sweeps over Europe and later moved to India in 1944.
Tony returned to Australia in 1943 and joined No 452 RAAF squadron at Strauss near Darwin. He was engaged in the fateful combat of 20th June 1943, described by one of the 54 Squadron RAF men as "their worst experience yet, even during the raids back home." Enemy losses were nine bombers and five fighters destroyed, and ten damaged.
General MacArthur sent congratulations. Sadly 452 lost two pilots, both aged 23. P/O's W. Nichterlean and A.T Ruskin-Rowe. Tony had been hit in the head and his aircraft was found by a friend, Dick Wilson. His aircraft BS174 went down at Cape Gambier, Northern Territory.
Ross Richardson said "we met on board the Queen Elizabeth en route from Glasgow to Halifax, Canada. We became good friends and spent three weeks in New York with a generous couple in their Park Avenue apartment. Tony and I shared a cabin on the trip from New York to Melbourne and were posted to 452 Squadron in April 1943"
By Bruce Read and edited David Hamilton
The Spitfire Association
