(click here for a higher resolution copy of the photo)
P/O Patrick N Kingston 414495 RAAF.
Born; 11 February 1919 in Murwillumbah NSW and enlisted in the RAAF on 11 October 1941. After training in both Australia and Canada he sailed to the UK and was attached to Bomber Command with his crew on 12 October 1943 with 207 Sqn RAF, after completing a number of operations he was killed in action on the night of 14/15 January 1944 in Lancaster LM383 EM-R in an attack on Braunschweig, along with all his crew except his Bomber A imer, Sgt T Bowskill RCAF who finished the war as a pow. Patrick and his crew now rest in Hanover War Cemetery.
Sgt Sydney D R Cook 414469 RAAF.
Born; 10 August 1916 in Ulmarra NSW and enlisted in the RAAF on 11 October 1941. After training in Australia he was sent to 4 SFTS in Saskatoon where he failed the pilots course and retrained as a navigator. On the 15 September 1942 he was severely injured when the Anson in which he and his pilot where flying in crashed into Lake Francis in Canada. After he recovered he returned to Australia where he was deemed unfit for further flying duties and retrained as an airfield controller. Sydney passed away on the 13 August 2003.
P/O Ronald W Wildman 420322 RAAF.
Born; 23 December 1919 in North Sydney NSW and enlisted in the RAAF on II October 1941. After training in Australia and Canada he sailed to the UK where he was posted to 158 Sqn on the 15 July 1943. After doing a number of bombing raids on places like, Hamburg, Peenemunde and Berlin. Ronald and his crew were ordered to an attack on Monchenglabach on the night of 30/31 August 1943 when returning from this bombing mission they were attacked by a German Nightfighter flown by Oblt Heinz Sturning of 3./NJG1 in which Ronald who was mortally wounded told his crew to get out as he was done for three managed to get out and ended up as pows, but three died with their brave shipper.
Those killed are buried in Heverlee War Cemetery in Belgium.
P/O Charles K Smith 413665 RAAF.
Born; 11 April 1915 in Portland NSW and enlisted in the RAAF on 12 September 1941. After training in Australia and Canada he sailed to the UK where he was posted to 460 Sqn on 30 June 1943. After bombing attacks on Hamburg, Cologne, Essen, Turin, Berlin and Nurnberg. On the night 22/23 September 1943 they were ordered to attack Hanover in Lancaster JA859 on their 19th operation. On their way to the target they came under attack from a German nightfighter piloted by Oblt Heinz Ferger of 3./NJG3 who shot them down 10-15km South
East of Bremen with the loss of the entire crew plus a second pilot who went along for experience. All eight member of the crew are buried in Becklingen War Cemetery.
F/O Noel C W Davis 413835 RAAF.
Born; 16 June 1921 in Canowindra NSW and enlisted in the RAAF on 13 September 1941. After training in Australia he went to 4 SFTS in Canada where he washed out as a pilot and he retrained as a bomber aimer. He was posted to 51 Sqn on the 27 January 1944 where he did a number of operations until 22 March 1944 where he and his crew were transferred to 35 Sqn Pathfinder Force. On the night of 27/28 April 1944 they were on the battle order for an attack on Friedrichshafen near Lake Constance which formed the border with Switzerland. Their Lancaster ND759 came under attack by a German nightfighter piloted by Oblt Wilhelm Johnen of 5./NJG 5 over Lake Constance, two of the crew bailed out, one drowned in the lake and the other was made a pow. The rest of the crew ditched in the lake where they swam to Switzerland and were interned. Noel returned to the UK on the 8/10/44. Noel died on the 18 August 2005.
F/O Gilbert L M Halcrow 420188 RAAF.
Born; 22 April 1923 in Glenorie NSW and enlisted in the RAAF on 11 October 1941. After training in both Australia and Canada he sailed to the UK and was posted to 355 Sqn in India where they operated Liberators, he arrived on 28 December 1943 and operated until 9 November 1944. After the war Gil became a pilot with Qantas. Gil died 19 July 1993.
F/O Keith E Harris 420189 RAAF.
Born; 12 September 1922 in Glebe NSW and enlisted in the RAAF on 11 October 1941. After training in Australia he went to 4 SFTS where he failed the pilot's course and retrained as a bomb aimer. He then sailed to the UK and was posted to 460 Sqn on 7 July 1943 where he completed a full tour of 30 ops of which he did 20 ops in Lancaster W4783 G for George which now stands in the Australian War Memorial in Canberra Australia. After completing his tour Keith did a stint as an instructor before returning to 460 Sqn to do a second tour on the 20 September 1944. On their fourth op their aircraft was hit by incendiaries from another aircraft which set fire to the wing and all the crew bailed out and became pow's. As at April 2010 Keith is still alive.
F/O Arthur G McTier 409849 RAAF.
Born; 18 April 1914 in Moonee Ponds Vic and enlisted in the RAAF on the 10 October 1941. After training in Australia he went to 4 SFTS where he failed the pilot's course and was retrained as an air gunner. He sailed to the UK and then sent to Malta with 40 Sqn flying Wellingtons. Arthur joined 40 Sqn on 1 March 1943 until 20 October 1943. On the 9 March 1943 his Wellington HK778 returning from a raid ran out of fuel where the aircraft had to ditch, all the crew were safe. After a period as an instructor the finished the war with 12 Sqn flying Liberators out of Darwin from 12 April 1945 until 6 December 1945.
F/Sgt Alfred W Teerman 414436 RAAF.
Born; 27 October 1922 in Brisbane Qld and enlisted in the RAAF on 14 September 1941. After training in both Australia and Canada Alfred sailed to the UK where he joined 460 Sqn on the 17 June 1943. Alfred and his crew completed one operation on a mining trip off the French before being on the battle order for an attack on 21/22 June 1943 on Krefeld in Lancaster W4929 AR-L. Their aircraft was shot down short of the target by Hptm Wilhelm Herget of Stab I./NJG4. Six of the crew were killed and only one airman managed to escape the aircraft, the bomb aimer Sgt H Thomson who finished the war as a pow. Those killed are buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
P/O Albert T S Collier 414446 RAAF.
Born; 26 November 1922 in Warwick Qld and enlisted in the RAAF on 15 September 1941. After training in both Australia and Canada Albert sailed to the UK where he joined 460 Sqn on 31 August 1943 where he and his crew completed 14 operations before he and his crew transferred to 550 Sqn on the 25 November 1943 and it was with this Sqn and flying Lancaster LM301 that he and all but one of his crew (who became a pow) were killed on an attack on Berlin on the 2 December 1943. Albert and five members of his crew are buried in Hanover War Cemetery.
(further work has found that this entry is not correct) This is W/O Eugene E. Hill 414562 who suffered a Hernia and was unable to do aerobatics so became a duty pilot.
W/O Robert L Rennick 414082 RAAF.
Born; 1 December 1916 in Toowoomba Qld and enlisted in the RAAF on 20 July 1941. After training in both Australia and Canada Robert sailed to the UK where he was posted to 10 OTU of Coastal Command. Robert was acting as second pilot in Whitley BD220 on the 14 June 1943 at 1439 hrs they found two U-Boats (U564 and U185) after shadowing the U-Boats until 1645 hrs when they received permission to attack the U-Boats. They flew into an attack and released their depth charges which hit U 564 which sank with the loss of 28 of their crew. 18 of the U-boats crew were rescued by U 185 including the captain of U 564. Robert's aircraft was damaged by the return fire of the U-Boats and the crew were forced to ditch the aircraft in the Bay of Biscay. After spending 3 days in their dinghy they were picked up by a French fishing boat which took them to its home port and into captivity. Bob and the rest of the crew spent the remainder of the war in Stalag Luft 3. For his efforts in sinking the U-Boat Bob was awarded an MID (Mentioned in Dispatches). As at today date Bob is still alive and lives with his wife in retirement in Queensland. I have now learnt that Bob passed away on the 19 September 2010 and to the best of my knowledge he was the last man standing.
F/O William M Barbour 414380 RAAF.
Born; 26 July 1922 in Chinchilla QId and enlisted in the RAAF on 14 September 1941. After training in both Australia and Canada Bill sailed to the UK and was posted to 455 Sqn of Coastal Command. After doing a numerous operations with 455 he and his navigator F/O F G Dodd found themselves on operations on the 6 July 1944 to attack a convoy of 10 merchant ships plus a number on M-Class minesweepers as escorts. It was during this attack that Bill's aircraft Beaufighter NE348 UB-F had its tail section blown off and it crashed into the sea. About a month later the body of the navigator F/O F G Dodd's body washed up on one of the many islands of the Holland coast, then in October another body washed ashore but because it had been in the sea for three months identification was not possible and he was buried as an unknown. F/O F G Dodd was laid to rest in Sage War Cemetery and Bill's name is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial. I rather think that the unknown buried next to Dodd in Sage War Cemetery is in fact Bill Barbour.
F/L Norman C Kunst 414496 RAAF.
Born; 21 October 1921 in Maryborough QId and enlisted in the RAAF on 11 October 1941. After training in Australia and Canada, Norman took a commission as an officer in the RCAF where he remained instructing student pilots on the art of flying. It was during this time Norm married a Canadian girl. Norm left Canada in late 1944 where he joined 456 Sqn (Australia's only nightfighter Sqn) on 28 February 1945 where he finished the war. Norm and his new wife went to Australia, where his wife found Australia's heat too much and they returned to Canada where they now live in B.C.
P/O Neville A Wilson 420310 RAAF.
Born; 22 February 1915 in Sydney NSW and enlisted in the RAAF on 11 October 1941. Training in both Australia and Canada Neville sailed the UK and was posted to 455 Sqn of Coastal Command. On the 1 May 1944 Neville and his navigator F/Sgt Ted Holmes took off in Beaufighter NE348 UB-F and his port engine failed, with only his starboard engine Neville was able to gain some control over the aircraft, however just short of the runway he was unable to keep the aircraft in the air and it crashed in to woods near the airfield. His navigator was able to escape but in spite of three attempts to get his pilot free he was unable to as his canopy was covered in burning trees. Neville was buried in Cambridge City War Cemetery in the UK.
F/O John R Maxwell 420624 RAAF.
Born; 13 July 1916 in Cessnock NSW and enlisted in the RAAF on 9 November 1941. After training in Australia and Canada John was posted to 455 Sqn in Coastal Command on 26 November 1943. John completed his tour of operations in June 1944 where he transferred to 280 Sqn which were equipped with floating lifeboats, which was used in air/sea rescue. John married while he was in the UK and returned to Australia after the war ended in Europe.
F/L Reginald J Nayler 414592 RAAF.
Born; 20 May 1918 in Brisbane Qld and enlisted in the RAAF on 12 October 1941. After training in both Australia and Canada. Reg failed his pilot's course at 4 SFTS and he retrained as a bombaimer where he then sailed to the UK and was posted to 460 Sqn on the 7 June 1943 where he completed 32 operations doing his last operation on the 16 December 1943 to Berlin. After a period of instruction Reg returned to Australia where he joined 200 flight which flew secret operations behind Japanese lines with Australian Commandos from 'Z' special forces. Reg's younger brother Edward was killed in training operation with 21 OTU on the 24 April 1944 when their Wellington aircraft was lost over the North Sea.
W/O Eugene E Hill 414592 RAAF.
Born; 9 November 1917 in Maryborough Qld and enlisted in the RAAF on 12 October 1941. Eugene trained in both Australia and Canada. Eugene suffered a Hernia and was operated on 13 November 1942 where he was deemed to be unfit for flying operations and spent the remainder of the war in an instructing role.
(further work has found that this entry is not correct) This is Sgt Albert V. Hill, who had washed out as a pilot but had been an accountant before the war and stayed in Canada for the duration of the war in the pay office.
F/S Neville L Sorensen 413678 RAAF.
Born; 26 October 1922 in Katoomba NSW enlisted in the RAAF on 12 September 1941. Neville trained in both Australia and Canada. Neville failed the pilot's course at 4 SFTS and he retrained as an air gunner and was posted to 464 Sqn when they were equipped with Venture aircraft on 25 May 1943 until the 1 October 1943 when he did a period of instruction with an OTU before being posted for his second tour on 11 April 1944 with 115 Sqn flying Lancasters. On the 31 May/1 June 1944 they were detailed to attack the railway yards at Trappes near Paris on their 7th operation, when they were shot down by either Hptm Hubert Rauth or Oblt Ernst-Greog Drunkler were all the crew were killed and they are now buried in Dreux Communal Cemetery in France.
Albert D McLeod R/101168 RCAF.
Albert enlisted in the RCAF on the 30 April 1942 in Vancouver B C. After his initial training in Canada he went to 4 SFTS on the 20 June 1942 and graduated as a pilot on 9 October 1942. Albert remained in Canada for the duration of the war mainly at number 5 Bombing and Gunnery School at Dafoe Saskatoon. He was discharged from the RCAF on the 12 February 1945 in Vancouver B C.
Albert went to reenlist on the 29 December 1951 before being discharged on the 13 February 1969 in Kamloops B C with the rank of Flight/Lieutenant.
F/L Lloyd W Farr 420340 RAAF
Born; 28 October 1913 in Blayney NSW and enlisted in the RAAF on 11 October 1941. Lloyd trained in both Australia and Canada and sailed to the UK where he was posted to 455 Sqn in Coastal Command in October 1943. After a number of sorties against enemy shipping and by pressing home his attacks on the escorts led to him being awarded a DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross). Lloyd after completing his tour with 455 Sqn then went on to become an instructor. Lloyd passed away on the 17 March 2000.
F/O Douglas W MacLean 420354 RAAF.
Born; 27 March 1912 in Penrith NSW and enlisted in the RAAF on 11 October 1941. Doug trained in both Australia and Canada before being posted to 12 Sqn on the 14 July 1944. After a number operations Doug and his crew were on the battle order for an attack on Essen on the night of 23/24 October 1944. On return from this raid Doug's aircraft came under by German flak over Holland and was shot down and his nearly all Australian crew were killed and are buried in Winterwijk Cemetery in Holland.
F/L John R C Walton 414530 RAAF.
Born; 15 January 1922 in Maryborough Qld and enlisted in the RAAF on the 11 October 1941. Bob trained in both Australia and Canada before sailing to the UK. Bob was posted to 464 Sqn which were flying Mosquitos. On the night of 25/26 July 1944 Bob and his navigator Charlie Harper in NT 138 SB-P were attacking a German ground convoy when there aircraft was hit by flak from this convoy. The flares they were using to illuminate the targets were hit and smoke filled the cockpit, soon the flares were giving off 3,000,000 candlepower and shells in the magazine started to explode. Both airmen decided to abandon their aircraft. Bob hurt his back during his landing but was able to make contact with some local Resistance people who hid him. After a couple of days he meet up with his navigator, who after General Patton's US armour broke through at St Lo in late August was able to make contact with the British liaison officer. After they arrived back in the UK, Bob spent some time in hospital recovering from his injuries because of his low altitude when he bailed out. Bob because of these injuries could not resume flying duties and finished the war on ground duties. Bob passed away on 11 September 2009.
F/O Robert J Sexton 414430 RAAF.
Born; 25 February 1922 in Ipswich QId and enlisted in the RAAF on 14 September 1941. Bob trained in both Australia and Canada before sailing to the UK. Bob was posted to 101 Sqn on the 5 July 1943. After completing a number of operations they were transferred to 7 Pathfinder
Sqn on 27 October 1943 until the 1 April 1944 in which he completed many operations during the battle of Berlin and the disastrous raid on Nuremberg . At the end of his tour of operations with PFF Bob was awarded a DFC for his determination and courage while attacking many enemy targets. Bob passed away on 4 June 2008.
Sgt Bryan G G Francis 414478 RAAF.
Born; 25 October 1921 in Mossman NSW and enlisted in the RAAF on 11 October 1941. Bryan trained in both Australia and Canada before sailing to the UK where as part of his ongoing training he was posted to 15 (P) AFU, Advanced Training Unit at Stanton Harcourt. It was while he was with this unit that on the 21 March 1943 he and an instructor were doing low level flying in an Oxford AB725 that the starboard wing clipped the ground and the aircraft spun in and crashed killing both pilots. Bryan is buried in Ramsbury Church Cemetery in Wiltshire.
F/L Sidney F Cave 420142 RAAF.
Born: 10 December 1912 in Northampton England and enlisted in the RAAF on 11 October 1941. Sid trained in both Australia and Canada. Sid accepted a commission as an officer in the RCAF where he carried out instructing duties before being posted to 38 Sqn who carried out maritime patrols in the Mediterranean Sea before being sent to India to do transport and supply missions over Burma. Sid passed away on 29 November 1991.
F/L John Park 414594 RAAF.
Born; 5 September 1920 in Atherton Qld and enlisted in the RAAF on 12 October 1941. John trained in both Australia and Canada before sailing to the UK and was posted to 461 Sqn which were equipped with Sunderland aircraft for Coastal Command. John joined the Sqn on the 2 March 1943 and served with that Sqn until 21 August 1943 on operations. John stayed with this Sqn until the end on March 1945 when he was discharged. John passed away on 21 May 2001.
F/S William A Burgum 414463 RAAF.
Born; 31 July 1922 in Childers Qld but grew up in Maryborough and enlisted in the RAAF on 11 October 1941. Bill was trained in both Australia and Canada before sailing for the UK. Bill was posted to 158 Sqn on the 10 August 1943 and after completing two operations over Europe to Peenemunde and Leverkussen found himself on the battle order for an attack on Berlin on the night of 23/24 August 1943. Bill and his crew flying HR980 NP-E did not return from this operation, their aircraft was shot down by Hptm Rudi Altendorf of NJG/4 and it crashed into a swamp near the village of Reiersdorf. Only two bodies were recovered that of the rear gunner F/Sgt Harley C Harber RAAF and the w/op Sgt Arthur Cox RAF. Bill and the rest of the crew including Canadian F/Sgt Gordon R Harrison RCAF remain in the aircraft and are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.
P/O Allan W J Hunt 420343 RAAF.
Born; 9 December 1915 in Enfield NSW and enlisted in the RAAF on 11 October 1941. Allan trained in both Australia and Canada. Allan accepted a commission in the RCAF and married Grace on the day they graduated as pilots (9 October 1942). Allan was then posted to 32 OTU (Operational Training Unit) in Vancouver. It was while with this training unit that on the 14 March 1943 and flying Hampden P5433 that the aircraft clip the water near Vancouver Island when the aircraft crashed into the lake with the death of all on board. Of those on board Allan's body was the only one recovered, the rest of the crew which included one other Australian and two Canadians are remembered on the Ottawa Memorial. Allan was returned to Saskatoon where he is buried in Woodlawn cemetery. The only member of Course 58 4 SFTS who remains there.
F/L Leslie G Knowles 414623 RAAF.
Born; 30 May 1920 in Brisbane Qld and enlisted in the RAAF on 13 October 1941. Les trained in both Australia and Canada and took a Commission in the RCAF where he remained in Canada as an instructor. When the war in Europe was all but over Les was posted to 160 Sqn in India on 1 March 1945 where they were undertaking minelaying and supply missions behind enemy lines in Burma.
(click here for a higher resolution copy of the photo)
Last updated March 29th, 2015
