Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Francis George Miller
A veteran of 27 bombing raids over Europe during World War II, Francis
George Miller, has died at Southport, aged 81.
Dusty, who joined the RAAF at 19 and was posted to England, served
with 467 Squadron ofBomber Command, rising from the rank of air gunner,
to flight engineer and then flight lieutenant.
"He actually did 32 trips over Europe, but only 27 actual raids. The toll was horrific and many young men, American, English and Australian,
did not make it back," his widow Evelyn recalled this week.
"His cousin Jack Hallas, from Gatton, was killed in the first raid that they made over Germany and among the other missions he took part in were some over Berlin.
"Francis flew Lancasters and was on several including one named G for George and another called S for Sugar. One of his aircraft survived the war after 137 trips and is housed now in a museum at Hendon, England."
"We've also come across a Dusty Miller Hotel in Birmingham, and while I think my husband probably made a call there I don't know much
more about it," she said.
Miller also trained on American Liberators (B24s) in Tennessee in the dying stages of the war and then returned to Australia where he served at various bases - at some, he was the commanding officer.
Miller grew up at Laidley where his family had a carrying and garage business. He returned there after the war and married Evelyn and they moved to the Gold Coast in 1956 where he operated a produce business at Mermaid Beach until he retired in 1981.
He loved fishing and was a member of the Southport Amateur Fishing Club.
Miller is survived by his widow Evelyn and two sons, Robert and Peter, who both live on the Gold Coast.