ORTON, Ernest
| Service Number: | 138086 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 November 1943, Woolloomooloo, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Leading Aircraftman |
| Last Unit: | Air Defence Headquarters (Brisbane) |
| Born: | Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia, 26 October 1925 |
| Home Town: | Blacktown, Blacktown, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Assat, Govt. Printer |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 5 Nov 1943: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 138086, Air Defence Headquarters (Brisbane), Woolloomooloo, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 May 1946: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 138086 |
Help us honour Ernest Orton's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed
Son of Lillian Grace ORTON, 4 Clifton Street, Blacktown, New South Wales.
Ernest was born in Blacktown, NSW, in 1925.
Before his war service, Ernest worked as a junior assistant at a shoe shop while also studying accountancy. In November 1943, just a few weeks after his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the RAAF and undertook training at No. 4 School of Technical Training in Adelaide.
In January 1944, Ernest was posted to No. 102 Fight Sector Headquarters at New Lambton, Newcastle. In February, he was posted to No. 108 Fighter Sector Headquarters in Brisbane as a Recorder. In June, he proceeded to Townsville for a Volunteer Air Observer Corps role. Finally, in October 1944, Ernest was posted to No. 112 Mobile Fighter Control Unit at Torokina, Bougainville, where he assisted with the tracking and directing of fighter pilots on bombing sorties. The unit was disbanded in January 1946 and in February Ernest returned to Australia.
Before his discharge from the RAAF in May 1946, Ernest spent a short period at Air Defence Headquarters in Brisbane. He said that his biggest achievement while serving was ‘my transformation from a youth to an adult’. He recommends that younger serving members respect authority and serve their nation proudly.
After the war, Ernest worked as a casual assistant at Joe Gardiner's boot store and also completed his Intermediate Certificate at night school. He was then employed as a public servant at the Land Titles Office in Sydney for over 40 years. Ernest recalls meeting Premier Neville Wran at the NSW Parliament House when he received his 40 year service medal for working in the NSW Government.
Ernest was married to Mavis and they were together for 75 years before Mavis sadly died in November 2024. The couple raised 4 children together and now have a large extended family.
When Ernest was younger, he played tennis and liked sprinting and running. After his war service, he became a member of the Blacktown RSL Sub-Branch and enjoyed catching up with his mates. He also enjoyed traveling overseas with Mavis. These days, Ernest leads a quiet, relaxing life.
Ernest credits his long life to eating healthy food, exercising, being a non-smoker and non-drinker, and having a lovely wife.
Click images to start slideshow.