Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of George Horace BRADLEY and Olive Madeline BRADLEY nee WILLIAMS, 18 Broadway, Colonel Light Gardens, South Australia.

Milton Bradley was born in Ascot Park in Adelaide in May 1925.
He enlisted in the RAAF in June 1943 a month after his 18th birthday as trainee aircrew.
As with most South Australian aircrew trainees, he was sent to Victor Harbour where he completed No 4 Initial Training School.
Selected as a Wireless Operator Air Gunner, Milton was posted to No 1 Wireless Air Gunnery School at Ballarat from August 1943 to April 1944 for wireless training and Air Gunner School at West Sale in eastern Victoria from April to June 1944 completing air gunnery training. He received his WOAG Badge and promoted to Sergeant on 9 June 1944.
Selected for duties in Europe, Milton arrived in England in August 1944. His service in the war was somewhat unique as he served in a variety of instructor positions at various flying training schools from mid-1944 to October 1945. This included No 18 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit at RAF Church Lawford in Warwickshire obtaining 37 hours flying time on the Avro Anson and No 9 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit at RAF Llandwrog on the Welsh northwestern coast during mid-1945 where he completed 48 hours flying time on the Airspeed Oxford.
From January to March 1945, he was attached to No 55 Operational Training Unit, a fighter conversion unit training pilots on the Hawker Typhoon in ground attack roles at RAF Aston Down in Gloucestershire.
He was promoted to FSGT in December 1944 and Warrant Officer in December 1945.
He returned to Adelaide in January 1946 and was discharged on 30 January 1946. He completed 145 hours flying time in aircraft including Avro Anson and Airspeed Oxfords.
Milton was a long time AFA-SA Mitcham Branch member and played bowls on the now disused bowling green and attended many dinner's at our clubrooms.
In May 2025, we joined with his family and friends and members of RAAF Edinburgh at the Mitcham Branch Club rooms in celebrating his 100th birthday. GPCAPT Greg Weller provided a summary of Milton's World War 2 service and read out a Letter of Congratulations from the Chief of Air Force AIRMSHL Steve Chappell and presented Milton with a Chief of Air Force Coin thanking Milton for his service and contributions to the Air Force. Meanwhile, Milton left us all in raptures with his wit and wisecracks during the day showing he had not lost any of his humour and sharpness in turning 100!
Milton, you were one of a special generation that that gave so much of themselves during World War 2 for which our nation will be forever indebted to.
Fair skies Len and thank you for your service.