WARD, Francis John
| Service Number: | 437226 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 October 1941, Alberton, SA |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | RAF Base (Merryfield) |
| Born: | Quorn, South Australia, 25 May 1923 |
| Home Town: | Rosewater (Greytown), Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Marist Brothers College, Alberton |
| Occupation: | Public servant |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 2 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Alberton, SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Dec 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 437226, Adelaide, South Australia | |
| 5 Dec 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 437226 | |
| 6 Dec 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 437226 | |
| 26 Apr 1945: | Honoured Distinguished Flying Medal | |
| 12 Jul 1946: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 437226, RAF Base (Merryfield) |
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Mail (Adelaide) Sat 28 April 1945 (trove.nla.gov.au)
Flier's Courage Earns D.F.M.
Pilot-Officer F. J. Ward, eldest
son of Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Ward, of
Bowyer street. Rosewater. has
been awarded the Distinguished
Flying Medal for 'outstanding
skill and initiative bv which he
set an excellent
example to all
navigators.'
P.O. Ward re
turned home un
expectedly this
week after fly
ing from Eng
land by way of
America.
The citation to
the award states
that as naviga
tor he took part
in numerous op
erational sorties,
including attacks
on Konigsberg
(twice). Stutt
gart, Bremen,
and Munich, and
throughout his
tour of opera
tions displayed courage and devo
tion to duty of the highest order.
In October. 1944, his aircraft
was detailed for a mission against
the Dortmund-Ems canal. Before
reaching the target the aircraft
was attacked by enemy fighters
and the bomb-aimer severely
wounded. The citation states that
in most difficult circumstances P.O.
Ward gave first aid and success
fully navigated the aircraft to its
important target.
P.O. Ward, who is 22. was edu
cated at Marist Brothers' College.
Alberton. He was employed in
the Commonwealth Public Service
when he enlisted in December.
1942.
Submitted 13 September 2017 by Jill Thomas
Biography contributed by Jill Thomas
"Flier's Courage Earns D.F.M.
Pilot-Officer F. J. Ward, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Ward, of Bowyer street. Rosewater has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for "outstanding skill and initiative by which he set an excellent example to all navigators." P.O. Ward returned home unexpectedly this week after flying from England by way of America. The citation to the award states that as navigator he took part in numerous operational sorties, including attacks on Konigsberg (twice), Stuttgart, Bremen, and Munich, and throughout his tour of operations displayed courage and devotion to duty of the highest order. In October, 1944, his aircraft was detailed for a mission against the Dortmund-Ems canal. Before reaching the target the aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters and the bomb-aimer severely wounded. The citation states that in most difficult circumstances P.O. Ward gave first aid and successfully navigated the aircraft to its important target. P.O. Ward, who is 22, was educated at Marist Brothers' College, Alberton. He was employed in the Commonwealth Public Service when he enlisted in December, 1942." - from the Adelaide Mail 28 May 1945 (nla.gov.au)
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