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SKINNER, Hickson William
Service Number: | 407977 |
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Enlisted: | 27 February 1941 |
Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
Last Unit: | No. 10 Squadron (RAAF) |
Born: | Kensington Gardens, South Australia, 12 June 1917 |
Home Town: | Tranmere, Campbelltown, South Australia |
Schooling: | St Peter's College, Adelaide, South Australia |
Occupation: | Clerk |
Died: | Flying Battle, Bay of Biscay, Off United Kingdom Coast, 18 August 1943, aged 26 years |
Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Runnymede Air Forces Memorial |
World War 2 Service
27 Feb 1941: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 407977 | |
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27 Feb 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Adelaide, South Australia | |
27 Feb 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 407977 | |
18 Aug 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 407977, No. 10 Squadron (RAAF) | |
Date unknown: | Involvement |
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Rootsweb ID: I656783 Birth Record: Born 12 June 1917 in Kensington Gardens, South Australia
(Source : South Australian Births 1907 - 1928. Book : 999 Page : 510 District : Nor.)
Father: William Henry SKINNER (b. 10/4/1885 SA - d. 13/12/1958)
1/8/1910 married Elsie Julia Walker at St Paul's Church, Port Adelaide, SA
Mother: Elsie Julia Skinner (nee WALKER - b. 12/9/1884 Terowie, SA)
Siblings:-
Sister Kathleen Hannah SKINNER (b. 25/2/1913 in Semaphore SA)
Sister Joan Patricia SKINNER (b. 31/7/1915 in Kensington Gardens SA)
Himself Hickson William SKINNER
Last lived at King's Grove, Tranmere, SA on enlisting.
Described on enlisting as 23yrs 8mths old; single; 5' 9.5" tall; 129 lbs;
medium complexion; blue eyes; brown hair; Church of England
27/2/1941 enlisted in RAAF at Adelaide, South Australia
27/2/1941 appointed to No.5 Initial Training School, Pearce, Western Australia
26/8/1941 awarded "Flying Badge"
successfully completed No.12 (P) 3 Flying course, at Geraldton, WA
passed as Pilot Officer
17/11/1941 appointed to No.3 PRC
17/11/1941 embarked from Australia
24/2/1942 disembarked in UK
21/4/1942 appointed to No.3 (P) Australian Flying Unit
22/6/1942 appointed to No.7 PRC
14/8/1942 joined No.10 Squadron
1/10/1942 Commission - E.A.T.S at Mount Batten (to 1/9/1943)
1/8/1943 ceased attachment to the RAF and posted from RAF Station Mount Batten
to No.10 Squadron RAAF (overseas)
Flight Lieutenant in 10 Squadron
18/8/1943 Sunderland II - 10 (RAAF) Squadron - W3985/T - lost over Biscay Bay.
409027 F/O Victor Denis William COLLINS - RP187 - Pilot
407977 F/Lt Hickson William SKINNER - RP187 - Pilot
414966 F/O Ronald Ross SWINSON - RP190 - Pilot
401820 F/O William Noel HILL - RP188 - Nav
414990 F/Sgt Hugh Edward BURBIDGE - RP192 - Ag
402704 F/Sgt Ronald Arthur GIBBS - RP192 - WOp/Ag
404754 F/Sgt Kenneth Morwick MELDRUM - RP193 - WOp/Ag
5226 Sgt Alfred Ramsay ALDRIDGE - RP195 - Fitter 2A
19707 Sgt Walter Paul GREATZ - RP195 - Fitter 2E
51797 Sgt Norman Henry ORFORD - RP197 - Armourer
19194 Sgt Walter SLATER - RP197 - flt engineer
655726 F/Sgt Donald Stanyon CROXFORD - RAF(VR) - RP136 -passenger.
(Except CROXFORD all crew were RAAF.)
-- names courtesy of RAFCommands - Henk Welting (24/9/2002)
18/8/1943 presumed killed in action, whilst flying overseas - off coast of UK
NO known grave
8/9/1943 Written by Wing Commander G C Hartwell, Commanding No.10 Squadron
to father - William Henry Skinner:
"All that we know is that he went out on patrol on 18th August and failed
to return. The last signal we had from him told us that he had sighted
some aircraft which he presumed to be enemy. Since then we have heard
nothing at all and as his patrol was over sea, we regret to say that we hold
out very little hope for his safety."
"Hec had shown himself to be a very capable pilot and was doing
excellent work in the Squadron. He was so thoroughly reliable and
always such good company in the Mess that it is hard to write and
tell you how much we thought of him."
"Just before his last flight, Hec had told me that he had become ENGAGED
(to Miss White), and intended being married in September.
His fiancee has since been down to see me and told me she intended writing
to you and Mrs Skinner. She is a very nice lass and someone whom I know you
would have liked. She has been rather upset, but very brave throughout and
requested some small trinket of Hec's. I am therefore sending her a small
brooch we found amongst his belongings."
5/10/1943 Written by MC Langslow - Secretary, to Father William Henry Skinner:
- a report received from Air Ministry, London:-
"Your son's aircraft was engaged on an anti-submarine patrol and at
approximately 6:50pm on the 18th August 1943, a signal was received
advising that an ememy aircraft was attacking. This signal was
immediately followed by an SOS and the approximate bearing of your
son's aircraft at that time was 222 degrees true. Nothing further was
heard from the aircraft, and I regret that enquiries so far have failed
to reveal any further news of the crew.
I desire to extend to you again the sincere sympathy of this Department
in your great anxiety."
His name is commemorated on Panel 187 at the Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Surrey, England.
His name is commemorated on Panel 100 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.
Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 26/6/2016. Lest we forget.