Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Victor Baggott's Service started 03 Jun 1941, on his Discharge record he gave his previous occupation as: Cattle dealer, drover, horse breaker, dairy farmer, tinsmith, plumber. He was enlisted on 08 Nov 1941 at Sydney NSW, and embarked 06 Mar 1943. He is known to have trained at No.1654 Conversion Unit (RAF Wigsley) and No.5 Lancaster Finishing School (RAF Syerston) as a Flight Sergeant. On his posting to No.467 (RAAF) Squadron at RAF Waddington on 26 Feb 1944 he was promoted to Pilot Officer, and later acting Flying Officer (which was later made a substantive rank). Between 22 March 1944 and 05 Sept 1944, he flew over 30 operational sorties over Germany, Belgium and France, with his crew of:
F/Eng F/Sgt Hanley, Matthew William 573620
Nav F/O Cossens,'Johnny' NZ427189
A/B P/O Fasham, 'Ron' Ronald Henry Alfred 926896
W/Op F/Sgt Wareham, 'Bill 1322908
Gnr F/Sgt MacGillivray, GA 1566844
Gnr F/Sgt Sleigh, Raymond 977351
During his service with No.467 Squadron he brought every single crew-mate he is known to have flown with back safely, and on finishing his Tour of Operations he was posted to No.17 Operational Training Unit as an Instructor. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 25 Jan 1945 on page 163 at position 45; London Gazette 16 Jan 1945 on page 415 at position 18). He was discharged from the RAAF 07 Feb 1946 (from No.7 OTU). He is believed to have died 17 Jan 2000, aged 82, and is buried at Hogbin Drive Crematorium, Stadium Drive, Coffs Harbour 2450, Gdn plot.

Details from AWM Discharge document, No.467 Operational Records Book (National Archives, UK), Australia Cemeteries records (online)

An account by William Wareham (his Wireless Operator at No.467 Sqn) states that he always flew with a koala bear hanging up in the cockpit "he wouldn’t take off without it!"
BBC - The Peoples’ War: A Piece of Cake (Article ID A4030570) at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/70/a4030570.shtml (Part 1)