MADDEN, Francis Bernard
| Service Number: | 68506 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 August 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Auburn, New South Wales, Australia, 17 December 1923 |
| Home Town: | Auburn, Auburn, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Time Clerk |
| Died: | New South Wales, Australia , 28 November 2013, aged 89 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Kemps Creek Cemetery & Crematorium, NSW St Gregory grave 23 |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 5 Aug 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 68506 | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Aug 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 68506, Mustered as trainee radio operator | |
| 1 Jun 1943: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 41 Radio Direction Finding Wing, Papua | |
| 1 Dec 1943: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, No. 50 Radar Station, Dobodura, New Guinea. Training as radar operator. | |
| 4 Apr 1946: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 68506 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS
Francis Bernard MADDEN (junior) was born in Auburn, NSW, on 17th December 1923, to parents Francis Bernard and Florrie (nee BALL) MADDEN.
A single, 18 year old clerk at the time, 'Frank' (as he was known) joined the Royal Australian Air Force in Woolloomooloo (Sydney) on 5th August 1942. He was enlisted in the rank of Aircraftman, service number 68506, and was mustered as a trainee radio operator (ground stations). After completing his recruit training at No. 2 Recruit Depot, Richmond, NSW, Frank then attended the No. 1 Radio School there, before being transferred to No. 3 Embarkation Depot Sandgate, in Brisbane, Queensland.
On 20th October 1942, Frank was transferred to the Reserve Personnel Pool in Townsville, Queensland, before being assigned to No. 28 Radar Station on Fitzroy Island, off Cairns. There he spent 6 months, before being transferred to 41 Radio Direction Finding Wing, in Papua, where he was promoted to Leading Aircraftman on 1st June 1943.
By the end of that year, the RAAF had implemented the use of a newly modified radar system to provide early warning of enemy air attack, and Frank was being trained as a radar operator. Now serving with the No. 50 Radar Station, he was promoted to Corporal on 1st December 1943, while in New Guinea.
On 18th September 1944, Frank was transferred to No. 20 Radar Station at Nelson's Bay, NSW, after his return to Australia the previous month. He again embarked for New Guinea on 2nd August 1945, serving with 3 Radio Installation & Maintenance Unit from November, presumably dismantling equipment following the end of the War. Frank returned to Australia on 18th January 1946, and was discharged from the RAAF on demobilisation, on 4th April 1946. He was eligible for the award of the 1939-45 Star, the Pacific Star, 1939-45 War Medal, and the Australia Service Medal, for his service.
Frank married June Therese PAYNE in Auburn NSW in 1946. They had four children. Frank died in Sydney on 28th November 2013, aged 89, and is interred at Kemps Creek Cemetery and Crematorium.
Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia, Find A Grave website, Oz At War website, and Births, Deaths & Marriages NSW.
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