Photograph of Julius Epstein in RAAF uniform
Object numberM2006/056:002
TitlePhotograph of Julius Epstein in RAAF uniform
DescriptionBlack and white photograph of Julius Epstein wearing his Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) uniform. Inscribed bottom right corner: 'Flight Lieut Julius Epstein DFC and Bar'.
Julius Epstein was born 25 December 1920 in Redfern, NSW to David and Rose Epstein. He grew up in Sydney's Eastern suburbs and attended Double Bay Public School and then Sydney Boys High School. After leaving school, he worked within the family hardware business, with his father and older brother.
He enlisted in the RAAF on 18 July 1942, training in Australia and Canada before arriving in the United Kingdom in July 1943. Here he served with the Royal Air Force Squadrons 90 and 7. He was part of Bomber Command and the Pathfinder Force, flying Lancaster and Sterling aircrafts in over 60 operations against some of the most heavily defended targets in Europe. He was also involved in a low-level dummy raid on the night before the D-Day landings at Normandy on 6 June 1944.
Julius joined the RAAF as a Pilot Officer and attained the rank of Flight Lieutenant in April 1945. In 1944 Epstein was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the following year received a bar for his continued 'undiminished skill and courage'.
After the war, Julius rejoined the family business, Epstein & Co which continued to expand and grow across Sydney. He married in 1949 and he and his wife Mary, had three sons. After he passed away in 1981, his collection of medals, uniforms and RAAF memorabilia were donated to the Australian War Memorial.
This image is part of a NAJEX collection of prints of photographs and drawings from the Australian Jewry's Book of Honour World War II, published 1974.
Julius Epstein was born 25 December 1920 in Redfern, NSW to David and Rose Epstein. He grew up in Sydney's Eastern suburbs and attended Double Bay Public School and then Sydney Boys High School. After leaving school, he worked within the family hardware business, with his father and older brother.
He enlisted in the RAAF on 18 July 1942, training in Australia and Canada before arriving in the United Kingdom in July 1943. Here he served with the Royal Air Force Squadrons 90 and 7. He was part of Bomber Command and the Pathfinder Force, flying Lancaster and Sterling aircrafts in over 60 operations against some of the most heavily defended targets in Europe. He was also involved in a low-level dummy raid on the night before the D-Day landings at Normandy on 6 June 1944.
Julius joined the RAAF as a Pilot Officer and attained the rank of Flight Lieutenant in April 1945. In 1944 Epstein was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the following year received a bar for his continued 'undiminished skill and courage'.
After the war, Julius rejoined the family business, Epstein & Co which continued to expand and grow across Sydney. He married in 1949 and he and his wife Mary, had three sons. After he passed away in 1981, his collection of medals, uniforms and RAAF memorabilia were donated to the Australian War Memorial.
This image is part of a NAJEX collection of prints of photographs and drawings from the Australian Jewry's Book of Honour World War II, published 1974.
Production date 1939 - 1945
SubjectWWII, NAJEX, Book of Honour, R.A.A.F.
Object namephotographs
Materialphotographic emulsion, photographic emulsion, paper, paper
Dimensions
- height: 90.00 mm
width: 64.00 mm
Language
- English
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Julius Epstein via the NSW Association of Jewish Service & Ex-Service Men & Women (NAJEX)