Edward Amerasakera
Encyclopedia
Air Vice-Marshal
Ekanayake Edward Rohan Amerasekera DFC & BAR
, RCyAF (21 May 1916 – 20 March 1974) third Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force and World War II
Royal Air Force
Navigator
.
, Ceylon on 21 May 1916, was one of the seven children of Edward Henry Ekanayake Amerasekera and Joslina Amerasekera (née de Silva Samarasinghe Siriwardena). Orphaned at the age of four, he was brought up by his uncle and aunt, Victor and Eda de Silva Siriwardena and later lived with his eldest sister, Hyacinth and her husband, Ashley Peiris at 'Ash Court', Kegalle. He received his education at Wesley College, Colombo
(1925–29), Kingswood College, Kandy (1929–32), St. Mary's College, Kegalle (1933–34) and at the Pembroke Academy (1935–39).
Edward joined Ceylon Defence Force but was forced out by his sister and other family members. He then, secretly applied to join the Royal Air Force
on 19 September 1940, was selected and left for England with the first batch of RAF Recruits from Ceylon in June 1941 on the S.S. Exeter. He was commissioned while serving with No 158 Squadron as a Pilot Officer
, General Duties (Navigator
) Branch RAFVR. He flew as part of Halifax bomber crew. In 1943 he transferred to No. 35 Squadron of the Pathfinder Force but went back to his old squadron. Amerasekera was promoted to Flying Officer
on 29 January 1944 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
. In August 1944 he joined No 640 Squadron, serving till 1945. In 1945 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
and was awarded the Bar to the DFC.
In addition to the DFC and Bar, he received the 1939-1945 Star, the Air Crew Europe Star
with the France and Germany Bar, the Defence Medal and the War Medal
. He returned to Ceylon in Early 1946 and served at RAF Kandy, Ceylon until August 1946 and resigned his commission on November, 1946.
, while on leave from the RAF, and on 1 October 1950, he was promoted to Acting Airport Controller.
Graham Bladon
, an officer seconded from the RAF. On 15 May 1951 he was commissioned as Pilot Officer
(Service number 01002) and promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader
with effect from the same date.
1955 he was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander
, followed by promotions to the ranks of Group Captain
(1 July 1959), Temporary Air Commodore
(13 November 1962), Air Commodore (1 January 1964) and Air Vice-Marshal
(1 October 1967). Thus becoming third Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force
in 1962.
While with the RCyAF, Ameresekera trained as a Pilot, first in Chipmunks
and later in the Jet Provost
under the guidance of Paddy Mendis
, who would later succeed him as Commander of the RCyAF. Whilst in RCyAF, Amerasekera received the Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal
, the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
and the Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal
.
Rohan Amerasekera died on 20 March 1974 at the young age of 57, and is survived by his widow Aloma (née Dender) whom he had married on 12 November 1958, and by his son and daughter. He was accorded a funeral with full military honours by the Government of Sri Lanka. His ceremonial sword and the miniature medals are on display at the Sri Lanka Air Force Museum
.
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
Ekanayake Edward Rohan Amerasekera DFC & BAR
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, RCyAF (21 May 1916 – 20 March 1974) third Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Navigator
Navigator
A navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to...
.
Early life and education
Born in KegalleKegalle
Kegalle is a town in Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. It is located on the Colombo - Kandy road. Its 48 miles/78 km away from Colombo and 24 Miles/40 km away from Kandy. It is the Capital City of the Kegalle District which is one of the two districts belonging to Sabaragamuwa province...
, Ceylon on 21 May 1916, was one of the seven children of Edward Henry Ekanayake Amerasekera and Joslina Amerasekera (née de Silva Samarasinghe Siriwardena). Orphaned at the age of four, he was brought up by his uncle and aunt, Victor and Eda de Silva Siriwardena and later lived with his eldest sister, Hyacinth and her husband, Ashley Peiris at 'Ash Court', Kegalle. He received his education at Wesley College, Colombo
Wesley College, Colombo
Wesley College, Colombo is a Methodist educational institution in Sri Lanka.In 1858 Rev. Joseph Rippon wanted to establish a superior educational institution for the Wesleyan Methodist Mission in South Ceylon. On March 2 1874 Wesley College, Colombo is a Methodist educational institution in Sri...
(1925–29), Kingswood College, Kandy (1929–32), St. Mary's College, Kegalle (1933–34) and at the Pembroke Academy (1935–39).
RAF career
With outbreak of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Edward joined Ceylon Defence Force but was forced out by his sister and other family members. He then, secretly applied to join the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
on 19 September 1940, was selected and left for England with the first batch of RAF Recruits from Ceylon in June 1941 on the S.S. Exeter. He was commissioned while serving with No 158 Squadron as a Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
, General Duties (Navigator
Navigator
A navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to...
) Branch RAFVR. He flew as part of Halifax bomber crew. In 1943 he transferred to No. 35 Squadron of the Pathfinder Force but went back to his old squadron. Amerasekera was promoted to Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
on 29 January 1944 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
. In August 1944 he joined No 640 Squadron, serving till 1945. In 1945 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
and was awarded the Bar to the DFC.
In addition to the DFC and Bar, he received the 1939-1945 Star, the Air Crew Europe Star
Air Crew Europe Star
The Air Crew Europe Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II. Specifically, the medal was awarded to Commonwealth aircrew who participated in operational flights over Europe, from UK bases....
with the France and Germany Bar, the Defence Medal and the War Medal
War Medal
A war medal is a military decoration awarded in time of war, as opposed to a service medal. It may refer to, for example:*War Medal *Campaign medal*Global War on Terrorism Service Medal*British War Medal - British Empire medal for service in World War I....
. He returned to Ceylon in Early 1946 and served at RAF Kandy, Ceylon until August 1946 and resigned his commission on November, 1946.
Civil Aviation
Amerasekera joined the Department of Civil Aviation on 20 August 1946 as the Assistant Aerodrome Officer (Flying Control) at the Ratmalana AirportRatmalana Airport
Ratmalana Airport , formally known as Colombo Airport, is a major domestic airport and military base in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was once Colombo's international airport, until the current Bandaranaike International Airport opened in the 1960s...
, while on leave from the RAF, and on 1 October 1950, he was promoted to Acting Airport Controller.
Royal Ceylon Air Force
He left this Department in May 1951 to join the newly formed Royal Ceylon Air Force under the Command of Group captainGroup Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
Graham Bladon
Graham Bladon
Air Commodore Graham Clarke Bladon CB CBE RAF was a Royal Air Force officer who served during the first half of the 20th century....
, an officer seconded from the RAF. On 15 May 1951 he was commissioned as Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
(Service number 01002) and promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
with effect from the same date.
1955 he was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
, followed by promotions to the ranks of Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
(1 July 1959), Temporary Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
(13 November 1962), Air Commodore (1 January 1964) and Air Vice-Marshal
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
(1 October 1967). Thus becoming third Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force
Commander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)
The Commander of the Air Force is the professional head of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The current Commander of the Air Force is Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama since 2011...
in 1962.
While with the RCyAF, Ameresekera trained as a Pilot, first in Chipmunks
De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk
The de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk is a tandem, two-seat, single-engined primary trainer aircraft which was the standard primary trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Air Force and several other air forces through much of the post-Second World War years...
and later in the Jet Provost
BAC Jet Provost
The BAC Jet Provost was a British jet-powered trainer aircraft used by the Royal Air Force from 1955 to 1993. The Jet Provost was also successfully exported, serving in many air forces worldwide....
under the guidance of Paddy Mendis
Paddy Mendis
Air Chief Marshal Deshamanya Paddy Mendis MBIM, idc, psc, SLAF was the fourth Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force from 1971 to 1976.-Early life and education:...
, who would later succeed him as Commander of the RCyAF. Whilst in RCyAF, Amerasekera received the Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal
Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal
The Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal was a service medal of Ceylon from 1968 to 1972. It was granted to all ranks of the Regular Forces of the Ceylon Army, Royal Ceylon Navy and Royal Ceylon Air Force, who complete 12 years service as defined in the regulations of the respective warrants...
, the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to...
and the Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal
Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal
The Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal was awarded to members of the Ceylon armed services who served during specified periods in 1949-1951 during its establishment.-External links:***-References:...
.
Rohan Amerasekera died on 20 March 1974 at the young age of 57, and is survived by his widow Aloma (née Dender) whom he had married on 12 November 1958, and by his son and daughter. He was accorded a funeral with full military honours by the Government of Sri Lanka. His ceremonial sword and the miniature medals are on display at the Sri Lanka Air Force Museum
Sri Lanka Air Force Museum
The Sri Lanka Air Force Museum is primarily a museum of the Sri Lanka Air Force, its predecessor, the Royal Ceylon Air Force...
.