FINDLAY, Ernest Colin
| Service Numbers: | 431616, 431616 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 July 1943 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 82 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Fumina, Victoria, Australia, 31 December 1924 |
| Home Town: | Noojee, Baw Baw, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Icy Creek State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer and Timber Worker |
| Died: | Accidental, Maffra, Gippsland, Victoria, 31 October 1955, aged 30 years |
| Cemetery: |
Warragul Cemetery, Victoria, Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 16 Jul 1943: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 431616, No. 82 Squadron (RAAF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 May 1945: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 431616, Operational Training Units (RAAF), ex Higgins Airfield for Morotai | |
| 28 Oct 1945: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 431616, No. 82 Squadron (RAAF), ex Labuan for Darwin | |
| 21 Dec 1945: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 431616, No. 82 Squadron (RAAF) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Flight Sergeant Ernest Colin Findlay (Service No:431616) enlisted in the RAAF on 16 July 1943 as an Aircraftman II at No 1 Recruiting Centre. Promoted to Leading Aircraftman, he was attached to No 1 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) Parafield, No 7 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) Denilquin, and 1 Wireless and Gunnery School (WAGS) Ballarat as an Airman Pilot in July 1944. Described as 'A good type of NCO who has plenty of determination and dash ' (NAA), he was a Flight Sergeant at No 2 Operational Training Unit (OTU) when he emplaned from Higgins Airfield for Morotai where he joined No 82 Squadron. On 9 July 1945, the Kitty Hawk Flight Sergeant Findlay was piloting at Labuan caught fire in the air and he was forced to bail. Flight Sergeant Findlay emplaned from Labuan for Darwin on 28 October 1945 for Discharge on 21 December 1945.
Born in 1924 at Fumina via Noojee in Victoria, Ernest was fifth of six children of Ernest Colin Findlay (b1891 in Geelong, Victoria) and Matilda Margaret Smith (b1892 in Neerim, Victoria). Ernest Snr (a Farmer) and Matilda married in 1911 at Fumina nr Neerim where they settled and raised their family. Ernest Snr served in WWI, and returned to farming at Fumina following his Discharge. Matilda died in 1929 and Ernest Snr remained in Fumona where he was a Selector/Farmer.
Ernest was a Timber Worker and Farmer at Icey Creek when he enlisted in the RAAF and in 1944 in Melbourne he married Lily (Lill) Marie Pardon (b1924 in Melbourne, Victoria) - Lil was working in Melbourne as a Clerk. Following his Discharge, Ernest and Lil settled at Lily Creek where Ernest was a Farmer before working for the Kauri Timber Coy in Neerim by 1954. Ernest died in 1955 as the result of an accident at Connors Plain. Lil died in 2005.
Biography contributed by Chris Buckley
Flight Sergeant Ernest Colin Findlay (Service No:431616) enlisted in the RAAF on 16 July 1943 as an Aircraftman II at No 1 Recruiting Centre. Promoted to Leading Aircraftman, he was attached to No 1 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) Parafield, No 7 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) Denilquin, and 1 Wireless and Gunnery School (WAGS) Ballarat as an Airman Pilot in July 1944. Described as 'A good type of NCO who has plenty of determination and dash ' (NAA), he was a Flight Sergeant at No 2 Operational Training Unit (OTU) when he emplaned from Higgins Airfield for Morotai where he joined No 82 Squadron. On 9 July 1945, the Kitty Hawk Flight Sergeant Findlay was piloting at Labuan caught fire in the air and he was forced to bail. Flight Sergeant Findlay emplaned from Labuan for Darwin on 28 October 1945 for Discharge on 21 December 1945.
Born in 1924 at Fumina via Noojee in Victoria, Ernest was fifth of six children of Ernest Colin Findlay (b1891 in Geelong, Victoria) and Matilda Margaret Smith (b1892 in Neerim, Victoria). Ernest Snr (a Farmer) and Matilda married in 1911 at Fumina nr Neerim where they settled and raised their family. Ernest Snr served in WWI, and returned to farming at Fumina following his Discharge. Matilda died in 1929 and Ernest Snr remained in Fumona where he was a Selector/Farmer.
Ernest was a Timber Worker and Farmer at Icey Creek when he enlisted in the RAAF and in 1944 in Melbourne he married Lily (Lill) Marie Pardon (b1924 in Melbourne, Victoria) - Lil was working in Melbourne as a Clerk. Following his Discharge, Ernest and Lil settled at Lily Creek where Ernest was a Farmer before working for the Kauri Timber Coy in Neerim by 1954. Ernest died in 1955 as the result of an accident at Connors Plain. Lil died in 2005.
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