PICKFORD, James
| Service Number: | 442360 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 June 1943 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Wayville, South Australia, 22 March 1923 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | 2 February 2011, aged 87 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Enfield Memorial Park, South Australia Rose Garden Memorial Sites, Bed CHM, Site Number 10 |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 19 Jun 1943: | Involvement Flight Lieutenant, 442360 | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Jun 1943: | Enlisted Adelaide, SA | |
| 19 Jun 1943: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 442360 | |
| 24 Jul 1946: | Discharged |
Flight Lieutenant James Pickford
Military Service – Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
Service Number: 442360
Branch: Royal Australian Air Force
Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Role: Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Enlisted: 19 June 1943
Commissioned as Officer: 19 May 1944
Discharged: 19 July 1946
James Pickford served with distinction in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II. He trained in both Canada and England, flying several aircraft types including the Handley Page Halifax, Avro Lancaster, and Short Stirling heavy bombers.
Service Timeline
19 Jun 1943: Enlisted in RAAF at No. 5 Recruiting Centre, Adelaide
30 Aug 1943: Embarked from Melbourne to Canada
14 Sep 1943: Posted to No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta
8 Apr 1944: Transferred to No. 8 Bombing & Gunnery School, Lethbridge, Alberta
31 May 1944: Posted to No. 1 Y Depot, Lachine, Quebec
16 Jun 1944: Disembarked in the United Kingdom and commenced RAF duties
25 Jun 1944: Assigned to 11 Personnel Reception Centre
5 Sep 1944: Transferred to 27 Operational Training Unit
29 Nov 1944: Posted to 75 Base
28 Jan 1945: Attended No. 5 Lancaster Finishing School
18 Mar 1945: Joined No. 463 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command (Waddington), flying Lancasters
26 Sep 1945: Reassigned to 9 Aircrew Holding Unit, Gamston
16 Jan 1946: Embarked from the UK
16 Feb 1946: Disembarked at Fremantle, Western Australia
28 Mar 1946: Returned to Adelaide
19 Jul 1946: Demobilised following three years of wartime service
Operational Service
Flew 5 sorties aboard Lancaster bombers with 463 Squadron (RAAF) from Waddington, England, between March and May 1945, totalling 34 hours and 30 minutes of combat flying time.
Medals and Awards
France and Germany Star
Defence Medal
War Medal 1939–45
Australia Service Medal 1939–45
Returned from Active Service Badge
Service history by Trevor Pyatt 28/07/2025
Submitted 28 July 2025 by Trevor Pyatt
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