RICHARDS, Jack
| Service Number: | 409851 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 October 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 458 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Mildura, Victoria, Australia, 3 April 1922 |
| Home Town: | Williamstown, Hobsons Bay, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Williamstown State School & Williamstown High School; Melbourne Technical College |
| Occupation: | Wool Classer |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Algeria, 27 November 1943, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Bone War Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria Plot I. Row F. Grave 3 - Panel 106 at the AWM |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 10 Oct 1941: | Involvement Aircraftman, 409851, Enlistment/Embarkation WW2 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Melbourne | |
| 10 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 409851 | |
| 19 Oct 1942: | Embarked | |
| 3 Nov 1943: | Involvement Flight Sergeant, 409851, No. 458 Squadron (RAAF), Middle East / Mediterranean Theatre |
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Father Albert Ernest (Textile Foreman) and Mother Evelyn Lilian (nee ________)
living at 2 Strand Street, Williamstown, Victoria
Prior to enlisting: 2 1/2 years Wool Classing course, Melbourne Technical College, VIC
Did gymnastics and weight lifting
Described on enlisting as 19 years 6 months old; 5' 3 1/4" tall; 119 lbs; dark-medium complexion;
blue eyes; dark medium hair; Presbyterian.
17/6/1941 completed medical at No.4 Initial Training School Victor Harbour
- Took OATH
10/10/1941 Enlisted at No.1 Recruting Centre, RAAF, Melbourne, Victoria
as Aircrew V
10/10/1941 No.4 Initial Training School
1/12/1941 Aircrew V (P)
31/1/1942 Aircrew II (P)
5/2/1942 No.3 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS)
5/4/1942 No.6 Service Flying Training School (SFTS)
2/7/1942 Received FLYING BADGE
17/9/1942 Airmen Pilot
Promoted to Temporary Sergeant
17/10/1942 RAAF - Embarked from Sydney for England
10/12/1942 disembarked into Bridgenorth, UK
23/12/1942 Granted leave
5/1/1943 returned from leave
23/2/1943 No.15 (P) Australian Flying Unit (AFU)
17/3/1943 Promoted to Temporary Flying Sergeant
14/5/1943 Granted leave
17/5/1943 returned from leave
10/7/1943 Granted leave
19/7/1943 returned from leave
22/5/1943 Ground General Reconnaissance School, Bridgenorth
20/7/1943 to No.7 Operational Training Unit
23/9/1943 Granted leave
29/9/1943 returned from leave
3/11/1943 Middle East Pool, 458 Squadron
Based at El Shallufa in Egypt, the squadron was re-equipped with Wellingtons and trained in the techniques employed to attack ships and submarines with both bombs and torpedoes. Henceforth, 458 Squadron’s primary role was to seek out and attack enemy shipping in the Mediterranean Sea. In this role, its aircraft operated from airfields in Egypt, Malta, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Sardinia, Corsica, and Italy.
27/11/1943 Killed in flying battle, Cape Bougaroun area, over Algeria
buried in: Plot I, Row F, Grave 3
Bone War Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria
Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 2/12/2014. Lest we forget.
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