Charles William Jackson Falkinder, CBE, DSO, DFC & Bar (29 August 1921 – 11 July 1993) was an Australian air force officer and politician.

Bill Falkinder
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Franklin
In office
28 September 1946 – 31 October 1966
Preceded byCharles Frost
Succeeded byThomas Pearsall
Personal details
Born(1921-08-29)29 August 1921
Hobart, Tasmania
Died11 July 1993(1993-07-11) (aged 71)
Hobart, Tasmania
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLiberal Party of Australia
OccupationAir Force officer
Military service
AllegianceAustralia
Branch/serviceRoyal Australian Air Force (1940–45)
Royal Australian Air Force Reserve (1945–67)
Years of service1940–1967
RankWing Commander
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsDistinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar

Born in Hobart, Tasmania, he was educated at Hobart High School and served in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War. Attached to the Royal Air Force's Bomber Command and later Pathfinder Force for much of this time, Falkinder flew some 117 missions over occupied Europe and was decorated with the Distinguished Service Order, Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar. He continued to serve in the RAAF Reserve after the war, rising to the rank of wing commander.

In 1946 he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Franklin, narrowly defeating Labor minister Charles Frost with a ten percent swing.[1] He was elected to parliament at the age of 25 and as of 2021 is the youngest Tasmanian to have served in federal parliament.[2] he is He held the seat until his retirement in 1966. Appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his service, Bill Falkinder died in 1993.[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Carr, Adam (2008). "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  2. ^ Church, Nathan (8 April 2021). "Youngest and oldest parliamentarians: a quick guide". Parliamentary Library. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member for Franklin
1946–1966
Succeeded by