Harry Goonatilake

Infobox Military Person
name= Harry Goonetileke
lived= November 27, 1929 - April 11, 2008
placeofbirth=Mutwall, Ceylon
placeofdeath=Colombo, Sri Lanka


caption=Air Chief Marshal Harry Goonetileke
nickname=
allegiance= flagicon|Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
serviceyears=30 years
rank=Air Chief Marshal
branch=
commands=Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force,
Chief of Air Staff,
Director Operations.
unit=No. 2 Squadron, RCyAF
battles= 1971 Insurrection,
Sri Lankan Civil War
awards=Uttama Seva Padakkama,
Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal,
Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal
laterwork= Air Lanka, Board of Directors
Air Chief Marshal W.D. Harry Goonetileke USP, ndc, psc, SLAF (November 27, 1929 – April 11, 2008) was the fifth Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force from November 1, 1976 to April 30, 1981. [ [http://www.dailynews.lk/2006/11/25/spice01.asp Harry Goonatilake, a true patriot] ]

Early life

Born 27 November 1929, as the only son of a family of five girls, his father was a booking clerk in the Railways Department and became an Assistant Transportation Superintendent at the time of retirement. Educated at Royal College, Colombo and played of the college rugby team, he would continue to play and coach the air force team as well.

Career in the Air Force

Harry Goonetileke joined the Royal Ceylon Air Force as a Flight Cadet in 1951 in the first batch of locally trained pilots. He received his flight training in the Chipmunk and Balliol aircraft and earning his Wings in 1954, and 4 years later in 1958 was promoted to Squadron Leader. He was one the members of a team that flew to UK and back ferrying the RCyAF's new de Havilland Heron aircraft to Ceylon. His commands included Commanding Officer No. 2 Squadron and Commanding Officer of China Bay , with responsibility for the Cadet training there. In 1962 he became Station Commander and after further training at Staff College, Wellington he was appointed Director of Operations with responsibility for all flying and ground operations in the Force. Harry Goonetilek saw action during the 1971 Insurrection. He also began the archival process that led in later years to the formation of the SLAF Museum and contributed greatly to SLAF sports particularly Rugby Football. He was the Chief of Air Staff before being promoted as Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force in November 1, 1976, a post he held till his retirement in April 30, 1981. [ [http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/01/20/spice01.asp Heroes who made the supreme sacrifice] ] In 2007 he was promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal along with 9 other former service commanders.

Family life

In 1955 he married Marian Perera and had two sons and two daughters. Both his sons joined the Sri Lanka Air Force, his eldest son Air Marshal Roshan Goonatilake is the current Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, his younger son Air Commodore Shirantha Goonatilake RWP,RSP, SLAF was killed in 1995 when the plane he was piloting was shot down by a SAM.

Death

He died on 11 April 2008 [ [http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080411_02 Air Chief Marshal Harry Goonethileke passes away] ] . His funeral was held at the General Cemetery Borella, Colombo on 12 April with military honors [ [http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=11771 Air Chief Marshal Harry Goonetileke former Air Force Commander died] ] .

References

External links

* [http://www.airforce.lk/ Official Website of Sri Lanka Air Force]