ROSS, Alan Barton
| Service Numbers: | S17119, 417001 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 January 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 100 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia , 23 June 1919 |
| Home Town: | Fullarton, Unley, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Prince Alfred College, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Insurance Clerk |
| Died: | Accidental, Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, 25 February 1943, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Port Moresby War Memorial, Papua New Guinea Panel 9 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Port Moresby (Bomana) Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Jan 1940: | Involvement S17119 | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan 1940: | Enlisted S17119 | |
| 8 Nov 1941: | Enlisted Adelaide | |
| 8 Nov 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 417001, No. 100 Squadron (RAAF), Adelaide, SA | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of William Martin Ross and Hilda Muriel Ross, of Fullarton, South Australia.
Alan Barton Ross was the first born of Scottish immigrant William Ross and his Australian wife Hilda. Alan and his younger sister Denise were raised in the Adelaide suburb of Fullarton and he completed his education at Prince Alfred College. He excelled in the sports of golf, yachting and lacrosse.
Prior to enlisting in the RAAF in June 1941 Alan worked in the Adelaide office of the Queensland Insurance Company and was a member of the Army Reserve based at the nearby Unley Depot.
Alan undertook basic training in Victor Harbor SA , and aircrew training in Ballarat, Sale and Bairnsdale in VIC where he gained his Commission. He was posted as a Wireless/Airgunner to 100 Squadron RAAF and left Australia on active service in January 1943. At the time the Squadron was based at Gurney Field in Milne Bay PNG.
Alan and his 3 crewmates were aboard Beaufort Bomber A9-197 on their first operational flight when the aircraft failed to return to base from air operations on the morning of 25th February 1943. The aircraft has never been found.
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