P/O Michael Dicken (419115) was born in Cairo on 5th of July 1923, and during the unrest in Morocco and war in North Africa, he was sent to Australia to finish his education. He enlisted in the RAAF at the age of 19 on July 14, 1942 and gained his commission and wings after graduating from 7 SFTS, Deniliquin. He was posted to 2OTU at Mildura for No. 23 Fighter Operational Training Course.

On August 17, 1943 P/O as the Pupil Pilot and Flying Officer Thomas Philip Power (408700) the Staff Flying Instructor were both aboard Wirraway A20-545 carrying out section combat exercises, the Wirraway was seen by another crew in the exercise to pull suddenly out of a steep dive at low altitude and see one of A20-545’s wings part company from the aircraft. This then followed into an unrecoverable dive into the ground 24km South East of 2OTU, tragically both pilots’ sustained fatal injuries instantly.

P/O M.P.S. Dicken aged 20 was buried on August 17, 1943 at the Mildura War Cemetery.

Acknowledgement – Joan Ward (nee Gooch) then of Deniliquin, Biography – Mildura 2OTU Heritage Inc