Peter Raw

Peter Frank Raw
Squadron Leader Peter Raw in the cockpit of a Vampire aircraft during 1952
Born	(1922-06-05)5 June 1922 Carnegie, Victoria
Died	14 July 1988(1988-07-14) (aged 66) Melbourne, Victoria
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Royal Australian Air Force
Years of service	1941–78
Rank	Air Commodore
Commands held	No. 205 Group Communication Squadron RAF (1945) No. 2 Squadron RAAF (1953–55) No. 1 Long Range Flight RAAF (1953) No. 82 Wing RAAF (1965–66) RAAF Base Butterworth (1972–76)
Battles/wars	World War II Vietnam War
Awards	Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross Air Force Cross Cross of Valour (Poland)

Air Commodore Peter Frank Raw, DSO, DFC, AFC (5 June 1922 – 14 July 1988) was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilot and officer. He joined the RAAF in 1941, and served as a flight instructor, bomber pilot and the commander of a communications unit during World War II. After the war he became a specialist navigator. Raw was appointed the commander of No. 2 Squadron in January 1953, but temporarily left this position for part of the year to participate in the 1953 London to Christchurch air race, in which he placed second. He returned to lead No. 2 Squadron at the end of 1953 and held this position until 1955.

Raw subsequently served in staff and diplomatic roles until 1965, when he took command of No. 82 Wing. Between May 1966 and April 1967, he served as the air support coordinator for the Australian forces in South Vietnam; his initial refusal to commit RAAF helicopters to assist the Australian Army force that was in danger of being defeated during the Battle of Long Tan in August 1966 generated lasting controversy. Raw served in various staff and training positions until 1972, when he was appointed the commander of RAAF Base Butterworth. He returned to Australia in 1976 and retired from the RAAF two years later.

Raw was born in the Melbourne suburb of Glen Huntly on 5 June 1922 to Alfred and Eleanor Raw. He was educated at Tooronga Road State School and, later, Melbourne High School. Raw began an electrical apprenticeship at Carlton & United Breweries in 1939, and studied part-time at Melbourne Technical College.