{{Short description|Rhodesian fighter pilot}} {{other people}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Use British English|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Air Marshal | name = Archibald Wilson | honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|ICD|OBE|DFCUSA}} | image = | office = {{plainlist| * Minister of Posts * Minister of Roads and Road Traffic * Minister of Transport and Power }} | prime_minister = Ian Smith | term_start = 10 March 1977 | term_end = 1978 | predecessor = Roger Hawkins | successor = William Irvine | office1 = Member of the House of Assembly of Rhodesia for Arundel | term_start1 = 30 July 1974 | term_end1 = 10 April 1979 | predecessor1 = Andrew Skeen | successor1 = Abolished | office2 = Member of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe Rhodesia<br/>(White non-constituency member) | term_start2 = 10 April 1979 | term_end2 = 11 December 1979 | office3 = Senator of the Senate of Zimbabwe | term_start3 = 11 February 1981 | term_end3 = July 1982 | predecessor3 = Douglas Hamilton Ritchie | successor3 = Esme Scott | birth_date = 28 May 1921 | birth_place = Bulawayo, Rhodesia | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2014|07|04|1921|05|28}} | death_place = Pinjarra Hills, Queensland, Australia | spouse = {{Marriage|Lorna Alexandra Wilson||2008|end=d}} | children = | relations = | occupation = | resting_place = | party = Rhodesian Front | allegiance = {{plainlist| * {{flag|United Kingdom}} * {{flag|Southern Rhodesia}} * {{flag|Rhodesia}} }} | branch = {{ubl|Royal Air Force | Rhodesian Air Force }} | service_years = 1939{{ndash}}1973 | rank = Air Marshal | commands = RRAF Thornhill (1957{{ndash}}1959) | unit = | battles = World War II<br>Rhodesian Bush War | mawards = {{MilAward Stack|ICD |OBE |Star1939_45 |ItalyStar |DefenceMedalWWII |WarMed1939_45 |RGSM |DFCUSA|size=x12px}} }} Air Marshal '''Archibald Oliver Garfield Wilson''' {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|ICD|OBE}} (28 May 1921{{snd}}4 July 2014) was a Rhodesian fighter pilot who served in the Royal Air Force during World War II. He went on to become a senior commander and then Air Marshal in the Rhodesian Air Force in the 1960s and early 1970s. After retirement, he served two terms in the Rhodesian House of Assembly, in the Zimbabwe-Rhodesian Parliament in 1979, and then in the Zimbabwe Parliament in 1981–1982. He held several cabinet portfolios prior to the Internal Settlement. He resigned in 1982 to emigrate, with his wife Lorna, to Australia's Gold Coast in 1982. He became a citizen of Australia in 1988.<ref name="RAAF Museum">{{cite web|url=https://www.airforce.gov.au/sites/default/files/minisite/static/7522/RAAFmuseum/aircrewaca/profiles/pr116-a-wilson.htm|title=RAAF Museum: Air Crew Association Member's Service Profile: Archie Wilson|accessdate=2013-08-21}}</ref>
==Air force career== Wilson joined the Southern Rhodesian Air Force in 1939.<ref name="RAAF Museum"/> He served in World War II as a pilot and then as Officer Commanding No. 238 Squadron from 1943.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Birmingham |first1=John |title=Archie, his fighter planes and his gift to us all |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/blogs/blunt-instrument/archie-his-fighter-planes-and-his-gift-to-us-all-20121121-29qgs.html |access-date=14 March 2021 |work=Brisbane Times |date=22 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129182035/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/blogs/blunt-instrument/archie-his-fighter-planes-and-his-gift-to-us-all-20121121-29qgs.html |archive-date=29 November 2012}}</ref> After the War he held command positions in Southern Rhodesian Air Force (later the Royal Rhodesian Air Force and the Rhodesian Air Force). From 10 June 1957 to 22 June 1959, he was commanding officer of RRAF Thornhill.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thornhill Air Station - Rhodesian Air Force, 1955 - 1980 |url=https://rhodesianforces.org/ThornhillAirBase.htm |website=Rhodesian Forces Web Site |publisher=Rhodesia Army Association |access-date=15 March 2021 |archive-date=21 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221100206/http://rhodesianforces.org/ThornhillAirBase.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Wilson was involved in directing the Rhodesian counter-insurgency operations in Nyasaland, Zambia and Rhodesia.
On 8 February 1969 Wilson was appointed Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Rhodesian Air Force, receiving promotion to the rank of Air vice-marshal. With Rhodesia becoming a republic from 2 March 1970, Wilson oversaw various changes to the force and his role, including new ranks, ensign, roundel, and the renaming of the force from 8 August 1970 as the "Rhodesian Air Force" (RhAF). At the same time his office of Chief of the Air Staff was changed to Commander of the Air Force, and Wilson was promoted to the rank of air marshal.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Brief History: The Rhodesian Air Force |url=https://rhodesianforces.org/RhodesianAirForceHistory.htm |website=Rhodesian Forces Web Site |publisher=Rhodesia Army Association |access-date=15 March 2021 |archive-date=25 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025074833/https://rhodesianforces.org/RhodesianAirForceHistory.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1970–71 Wilson was involved in the development of the secret Alcora Exercise military alliance between Rhodesia, South Africa and Portugal.<ref>{{cite book |last1=de Meneses |first1=Filipe Ribeiro |last2=McNamara |first2=Robert |title=The White Redoubt, the Great Powers and the Struggle for Southern Africa, 1960–1980 |date=2018 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |location=London |isbn=978-1-137-44757-9 |page=129 |url=https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1057%2F978-1-137-44758-6.pdf |access-date=15 March 2021 |chapter=4 (Building the 'White Redoubt')|doi=10.1057/978-1-137-44758-6 }}</ref> On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the 1947 formation of the Southern Rhodesia Air Force in November 1972, Wilson announced: "Our Air Force will continue to fulfil its role with quiet efficiency and is ready and able to do its duty – come what may."<ref>{{cite web |title=25th Birthday of the Rhodesian Air Force |url=http://rhodesianforces.org/airforce25yrs.html |website=Rhodesian Forces Web Site |publisher=Rhodesia Army Association |access-date=15 March 2021 |date=28 November 1972 |archive-date=19 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919042007/http://rhodesianforces.org/airforce25yrs.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
After 32 years, Wilson retired from Air Force service on 15 April 1973, being the last remaining member of the original Southern Rhodesia Air Force and the last Chief of the Air Staff.<ref name=Salt/> On his retirement he expressed a hopeful tone: "Terrorism in Rhodesia will probably get worse before it gets better but the security forces will win. Terrorism cannot win. It cannot achieve its aim."<ref name=Salt>{{cite book |last1=Salt |first1=Beryl |title=A Pride of Eagles: A History of the Rhodesian Air Force |date=2000 |publisher=Helion & Company; 30 South Publishers (Pty) Ltd |isbn=978-1-908916-26-6 |pages=494–495 |edition=2015}}</ref>
==Politics== As a member of Ian Smith's Rhodesian Front, Wilson was elected to the House of Assembly as the member for Arundel at the Rhodesian general election in 1974. He retained his seat during the 1977 general election.<ref name="RAAF Museum"/>
He was appointed to the Senate of Zimbabwe in 1981 but resigned after one year.
==Later life== After resigning from the Senate in July 1982, Wilson decided to emigrate with his wife Lorna to Australia in August 1982. Wilson and his family settled in the Gold Coast region of Queensland, receiving Australian citizenship on 25 October 1988. With his wife Lorna predeceasing him (27 July 1923 – 22 August 2008) when she died in Brisbane at age 85, Wilson spent his last few years in the RSL Care retirement community in Pinjarra Hills until his death at the age of 93 on 4 July 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=Passing of Air Marshal Archie Wilson |url=https://groups.google.com/g/orafs-ourstory-updates/c/LwDl-7wHGTg |website=ORAFs - Old Rhodesian Air Force Sods |publisher=Google Groups |access-date=15 March 2021 |date=6 July 2014}}</ref> He is buried with his wife in Tamborine Mountain Cemetery.
==Honours== {| class="wikitable" |- style="background:DarkGreen;color:white" align="center" | Award <br /> (Ribbon / Description) || Notes |- | {{MilAward Desc|ICD|x25px}} || 11 November 1970<ref>{{cite book |last1=Saffery |first1=David |title=The Rhodesia Medal Roll: Honours and Decorations of the Rhodesian Conflict 1970-1981 |date=2006 |publisher=Jeppestown Press |isbn=978-0-9553936-0-0 |page=24}}</ref> |- |{{MilAward Desc|OBE|x25px}} || (OBE; Military Division) NY 1961<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=42235 |date=27 December 1960 |supp=5|page=8935}}</ref> |- | {{MilAward Desc|Star1939_45|x25px}} || |- | {{MilAward Desc|ItalyStar|x25px}} || |- | {{MilAward Desc|DefenceMedalWWII|x25px}} || |- | {{MilAward Desc|WarMed1939_45|x25px}} || |- | {{MilAward Desc|RGSM|x25px}} || |- |{{MilAward Desc|DFCUSA|x25px}} || |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef|before=Squadron Leader Doug Whyte}} {{s-ttl|title=Officer Commanding, RRAF Thornhill|years=1957{{ndash}}1959}} {{s-aft|after=Group Captain John Howard Deall}} {{s-bef|before=Air Vice-Marshal Harold Hawkins}} {{s-ttl|title=Chief of the Air Staff|years=1969{{ndash}}1970}} {{s-non|reason=Office renamed}} {{s-new}} {{s-ttl|title=Commander of the Rhodesian Air Force|years=1970{{ndash}}1973}} {{s-aft|after=Air Marshal Mick McLaren}} {{s-par|rh-ha}} {{s-bef|before=Andrew Skeen}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Arundel|years=1974{{ndash}}1979}} {{s-non|reason=Constituency abolished}} {{s-off}} |- {{s-bef|rows=3|before=Roger Hawkins}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Posts|years=1977–1978}} {{s-aft|rows=3|after=William Irvine}} |- {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Roads and Road Traffic|years=1977{{ndash}}1978}} |- {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Transport and Power|years=1977{{ndash}}1978}} {{s-par|zw}} {{s-bef|before=Douglas Hamilton Ritchie}} {{s-ttl|title=Senator of the Senate of Zimbabwe|years=1981{{ndash}}1982}} {{s-aft|after=Esme Scott}} {{s-end}}
{{Members of the 1st Parliament of Zimbabwe}} {{Zimbabwe Air Force commanders}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Archibald}} Category:1921 births Category:2014 deaths Category:People from Bulawayo Category:Rhodesian Air Force air marshals Category:Southern Rhodesian World War II pilots Category:Rhodesian military personnel of the Bush War Category:Zimbabwean people of British descent Category:White Rhodesian people Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Category:Rhodesian Front politicians Category:Naturalised citizens of Australia Category:Zimbabwean emigrants to Australia Category:Members of the Parliament of Rhodesia Category:Members of the Senate of Zimbabwe