Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William John Hart was born in Perth in 1923. He was named after his father, but was known as Jack. He grew up in Roleystone on his family Orchard in the Perth Hills. Jack aspired to be a P.M.G. Techician. Hence after getting his Junior certificate, he went to Perth Tech before sitting the P.M.G. Enterance Exam. Jack started out as a Telephone Operator in the Fremantle Post Officer as per Bertwhistle Wiki. He was not keen on being a Telephone Operator as he aspired to be trained as a Techician. Hence he went back to his work as an Orchardist's Assistant. However, Jack may have reset his ambition after the RAAF called for Aircrew volunteers.  He likely aspired to fly Spitfires like many thousands of others. However, he had to be Eighteen to enlist.  Jack was selected for RAAF Aircrew, five weeks after his 18th. He enlisted on the on 7th Dec 1941. Unkown to him at that time, the significance of that date meant that his war would be fought in the S.W. Pacific not in the E.T.O. Jack passed his initial Aircrew Screening Tests  to qualify him for RAAF Pilot Training. He masterd the DH82 Tiger Moth in No 9 Flying Training School at RAAF Base Cunderdin in W.A.  Then the Avro Anson in No 4 S.F.T.S at RAAF Base Geralton in W.A. He had just turned Nineteen when he got his RAAF Pilot "Wings". Jack was kept in Australia in 1943 as an RAAF Anson Pilot. He had to  support an RAAF Air Observer Training unit. Later, in 1944 he did his Operational Training in RAAF Boston Bombers. Jack flew his RAAF Ops in No 22 Squadron in Dutch New Guinea. He completed ten missions before being W.I.A. on his 11th mission. He was strafing an Enemy Airstrip on Ambon when wounded in both legs. Though weekened by loss of blood, he saved his crew by flying 350 miles back to the RAAF base on Morotai,  as per his M.I.D. citation.  Jack was repatriated, then hospitalized for three weeks. W/O William "Jack" Hart M.I.D. was discharged after four years service in early 1946. He went back to Roleystone to work in the Orchard. Jack did not allow his war wounds to stop him from working for a living. He married in 1953. His beloved wife was a W.A.A.A.F. as per NAA RAAF File.