IVAN HENRY DAVIES DFC OAM Update Details

DAVIES, IVAN HENRY

Service Number: 400528
Enlisted: 15 September 1940
Last Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Last Unit: Operational Training Units (RAAF)
Born: Albert Park, Victoria, Australia, date not yet discovered
Home Town: Not yet discovered
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Memorials:
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World War 2 Service

15 Sep 1940: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 400528
9 Nov 1940: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman
9 May 1941: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, Discharged as an Airman on 8 May 1941 having been grnated a Commission.
27 May 1941: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 400528, Attached to RAF (UK) from 27 May 1941 to 20 November 1943. During this time he was posted to 50 Squadron (RAF) and 158 Squadron (RAF).
9 Nov 1941: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer
9 May 1943: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant
31 Aug 1945: Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 400528, Operational Training Units (RAAF), Service Medals: 1939-45 Star; Aircrew Euope Sta + Clasp; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45; ASM 1939-45. Returned from Active Service Badge.

Brief Histroy

IVAN HENRY DAVIES DFC, OAM, KAM (Belgium), was born on July 16, 1909 in Victoria and passed away on February 12, 1992 in Perth.
With the outbreak of the second world war, he enlisted in the RAAF Empire Training Scheme and put his age back to be trained as a navigator.
Ivan served in England in the RAF 51 Squadron and 158 Squadron where he flew mainly in Whitley and Halifax bombers.
He served with distinction over Europe until shot down on August 7, 1942 over Germany.
Eluding German forces he made his way into Belgium and befriended a Belgium farmer who hid him until he became No. 34 on the Comete line escape route to Spain.
Ivan never forgot those that helped him and his fellow airmen and later sought out and brought the grandchildren of the Belgium farmer to Perth for a holiday. He also provided a holiday to Perth for the woman responsible for the development of the Comete line escape route, Countess Andre De Jong and her companion.
After the war, Ivan and his wife Mercy, took up farming in the South West centre of Nyamup where they stayed until the mid-sixties before deciding to retire to the city of Perth.
Ivan became a passionate fighter for the rights of the widows and children of Australian servicemen and was responsible for rectifying a large number of injustices in the repatriation system.

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