ARBON, Colin Bentley
| Service Number: | 407995 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 March 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | No. 30 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Mile End, South Australia, 3 August 1917 |
| Home Town: | Norwood (SA), South Australia |
| Schooling: | St Morris School, Tranmere Preparatory School & Adelaide Technical High School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Salesman |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Ambon, Netherlands East Indies, 4 April 1945, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Commemorated ~ Column 7, Ambon Memorial, Maluku, Indonesia. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Technical High School Old Scholars WW2 Honour Roll, Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 1 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 407995, Aircrew Training Units, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 407995 | |
| 20 Oct 1941: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer | |
| 20 Apr 1942: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer | |
| 20 Oct 1943: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant | |
| 4 Apr 1945: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 407995, No. 30 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SW Pacific 1941-45 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Colin Bentley ARBON was born on 3rd August, 1917 in Mile End, South Australia
His parents were Clayton Fulton ARBON and Gladys Edith SPOONER
He enlisted in the Reserves on 26th July, 1940 & re-enlisted on 1st March, 1941 in Adelaide with the RAAF (Air Crew)
In 1942 in Leeton, NSW he married Norma Bernice Laught GAETJENS and had two sons, David Bentley Laught ARBON and Michael ARBON - Norma died on 15th June, 1978 & is buried in St Phillips & St James Anglican Church in Old Noarlunga, SA
He was a Pilot officer on 20th October, 1941, Flying Officer on 20th April, 1942 and Flight Lieutenant 20th October, 1943 and was awarded his Flying Badge on 21st August, 1941
He went missing, believed killed on 4th April, 1945 in an air operation at Amboina Bay, Amboina, Dutch East Indies - he was in a Beaufighter Aircraft A8 - 151 at the time and was a Flight Lieutenant with the 31 Squadron when he died
His name is memorialised on the Australian War Memorial and the Roll of Honour in Adelaide, South Australia.
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Colins brother Jack Fulton ARBON (/explore/people/512561) also served with the Air Force in WW2 (SN416405) & was discharged in 1945.
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Plane was a Beaufighter A8-151 shot down at Amboina Bay, Dutch East Indies
Colin was qualified to fly the following planes: Tiger Moth, Hawker Demon, Wackett Trainer, Wirraway, Arvo Trainer, Oxford, Vultee Vengeance, Fairey Battle, Ryan Trainer, and Avro Anson
Click images to start slideshow.