TRELOAR, Victor
| Service Number: | 416171 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 March 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 2 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Redhill, SA, 2 February 1913 |
| Home Town: | Clements Gap, Barunga West, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Netherlands East Indies, 14 September 1942, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Ambon Memorial, Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Clements Gap District Roll of Honor, Clements Gap WW2 Memorial, No 2 Squadron RAAF Roll of Honour, Red Hill District Memorial Arch Gates, Red Hill Honour Roll WW2, Redhill War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 31 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 416171, No. 4 Initial Training School Victor Harbor | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Apr 1941: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, No. 1 Wireless Air Gunnery School Ballarat | |
| 1 May 1941: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 416171, No. 1 Wireless Air Gunnery School Ballarat, Empire Air Training Scheme, No. 13 WAGS Course | |
| 20 Oct 1941: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 416171, No. 2 Bombing and Air Gunnery School / No. 3 Air Observers School Port Pirie, Empire Air Training Scheme | |
| 13 Nov 1941: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, No. 2 Bombing and Air Gunnery School / No. 3 Air Observers School Port Pirie | |
| 17 May 1942: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 4 Embarkation Depot | |
| 14 Sep 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 416171, No. 2 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SE Asia 1941-45 |
Help us honour Victor Treloar's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Steve Larkins
Victor TRELOAR (1913-1942)
Victor Treloar was born at Redhill in SA's mid north on the 2nd March 1913.
A farmer, he had joined the 9th Light Horse Regiment, a Militia unit with very strong connections to SA's mid north dating back to the Boer War. He took discharge when the Crystal Brook Troop where he paraded, was disbanded.
He enlisted in the RAAF 31 March 1941 and began his screening and selectpn for aircrew at No. 4 Initial Training School at Victor Harbor. He was selected for training as a wireless operator air gunner. He progressed through No. 1 Wireless and Air Gunnery School at Ballarat, then to No. 2 Bombing and Air Gunnery School at Port Pirie.
From there he proceeeded interstate via No. 4 Embarkation Depot in Adelaide to Wagga where he undertook crew training at No. 2 Service Flying Training School at Forest Hill Airbase. From there he went to the nearby No. 5 Service Flying Training School at Uranquinty.
In july 1942, he was posted to No. 2 Squadron, which had sustained heavy casualties and losses of aircraft in the face of the Japanese advance through Malaya and the Netherlands East Indies.
He was taking part in a raid on 1 September 1942, in Hudson A16-172, which was shot down by anti-aircraft fire while on a raid to Tamin-bar Island.
He left a widow and three year old son.
Compiled by STeve Larkins January 2026
Sources:
Service record
1 WAGS website
See links in sidebar.
Click images to start slideshow.