Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Father Adam Ingram  and   Mother Jessie Jane (nee _______)
living in 9 Rous Crescent, Canberra, ACT.

Ian lived with his parents prior to enlisting.

Prior to enlisting Ian was:-
- an avid member of the CANBERRA PLATYPUS Swimming Club;
- he worked as a Clerk with the Commonwealth Public Service Board in Canberra ACT for 1.5 years

Previous Service:  3rd Infantry Battalion, Militia

Described on enlisting as 20 years 3 months old; single; 5' 11" tall; 167 lbs; medium complexion;
blue eyes; brown hair; Congregational.

6/1/1941          Completed medical at No.2 Recruting Centre, Sydney - fit for service
                        Enlisted in Sydney
                        as Aircrew V (P) at No.2 Initial Training School (ITS) in Lindfield

1/3/1941          classified as Aircrew II (P) as a Lance Corporal

6/3/1941          No.C. Elementary Flying Training School, at Narrandera

2/5/1941          No.2 Embarkation Depot

20/5/1941        Embarked from Sydney for service overseas
12/6/1941        disembarked into Canada

17/6/1941        No.2 Elementary Flying Training School, Uplands, Canada

1/9/1941          Graduated as a pilot from No. 2 Service Flying Training School at Uplands,
                        Ontario, Canada
                        Promoted to Sergeant
*** Awarded and  received his "flying badge" ****

3/9/1941          No.1 Y Depot, Halifax

9/9/1941          Embarked from Canada for England
24/9/1941        disembarked into England

15/10/1941      No.40 Aircraftmen War Course
13/12/1941      completed course

14/12/1941      Granted leave
20/12/1941      returned from leave

In January 1942 the 225 Squadron received some Hurricanes for tactical reconnaissance duties.

1/4/1942          Granted leave
7/4/1942          returned from leave

In May began to convert to Mustangs. The squadron was allocated to the North African invasion
force providing tactical reconnaissance support for the 1st Army throughout the Tunisian campaign.

11/8/1942         Granted leave
24/8/1942         returned from leave

1/9/1942          No.154 Squadron

29/9/1942        Noted by Wing Commander  Howard V Alloway:-

In September the Australians deployed to Libya to join the Desert Air Force which, together with the
Eighth Army, was leading the counter-offensive against Rommel.

13/11/1942      No.225 Squadron

In 1942 the 225 squadron re-equipped with Hawker Hurricanes and North American Mustangs.
After participating in the allied invasion of Tunisia "Operation Torch".

In November 1942 the squadron took part in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa.
By now the Mustangs had been removed, and the squadron operated a mix of Hurricanes and
Hurribombers.

It flew into Maison Blanche airfields in Algiers on 13 November, and began operations four days later. 

During the campaign in North Africa the squadron flew a mix of missions. Tactical reconnaissance was
most common, but ground attack, pathfinder sorties and tactical bombing missions were also flown.
During this period the squadron converted to the Spitfire.

By late November the grim struggle once again centred on the port of Tobruk, where the allies were
under siege.

On the afternoon of the 25th, Squadron Leader Peter Jeffrey led pilots from No. 3 Squadron and the
RAF's No. 112 Squadron (which included a number of Australians) on an offensive sweep, seeking
to take the fight to the enemy. To the unrestrained enthusiasm of the onlooking allied army Jeffrey's
formation scored an important victory, shooting down seven enemy aircraft and damaging another
eight for the loss of one Tomahawk.

Several days later another intense engagement saw 20 more Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed or
damaged.

When the last Australian Army division was withdrawn from the Middle East at the end of 1942,
the RAAF remained behind.
(For the next three years the Australian pilots and ground staff fought their way northwards
through Tunisia, Sicily, Corsica, Italy, and central Europe, to the final victory over Germany.)

His service aircraft mostly flown was -  DH 82 Harvard Plane.

Stated as most proficient in flying TIGER MOTH HARVARD II plane.

29/11/1942      Flying Officer Ingram was lost on operations over North Africa, while serving
                        with 225 Squadron RAF.

buried in:         Bone War Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria
                        Plot VI. Row A. Grave 16.

Sourced and submitted by Sharyn Roberts and Julianne T Ryan.  28/11/2014.  Lest we forget.