GILLAN, Bruce Thomson
| Service Number: | O33625 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 August 1949 |
| Last Rank: | Pilot Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia , 18 November 1929 |
| Home Town: | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
| Schooling: | Canberra High School, ACT, Australia |
| Occupation: | Trainee Cinema Manager |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Korea, 27 January 1952, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Flying Officer Gillan's body was never recovered and is therefore regarded as missing, presumed killed in action., United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Busan, Korea |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cootamundra Korean War Memorial, Griffith Korean War Missing In Action Honour Roll, Gympie Memorial Lane Murals, Ipswich Korean War Memorial, Korea United Nations Memorial Cemetery Wall of Remembrance, Lithgow War Memorial, Norfolk Island Korean War Memorial, Wagga Wagga Korean Memorial |
Non Warlike Service
| 29 Aug 1949: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force |
|---|
Korean War Service
| 25 Jun 1950: | Involvement Flying Officer, O33625, No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Sep 1951: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, O33625 |
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Provided to VWMA for publication by “Historical Unrecovered War Casualties – Air Force”.
Flying Officer Bruce Thomson GILLAN O33625/450929 was born in Rockhampton on 18 November 1929. He was residing in Canberra ACT at enlistment. He joined and served in the Air training Corp in Canberra in 1946 and attained NSW leaving certificate in 1947. Prior to enlistment, he was employed as a trainee Cinema Managerand enlisted into RAAF in Sydney on 30 Aug 1949 as a Trainee Pilot, graduating in Feb 1951. After conversion, he was posted to 77 Sqn Korea on 09 Sep 1951 to fly Meteors . He was awarded the US Air Medal, United Nations Service Medal and Korea Medal. He was MIA believed Killed on 27 Jan 1952, aged 22.
Mission Summary
Flying Officer Bruce Thomson GILLAN, Service No: O33625 DoB: 18 November 1929, MIA 27 Jan 1952, LKP TOKYO GRID YC 3208 latitude and longitude 37 59 47.19N 125 38 24.98E
On 27 Jan 1952, Black Flight (FLGOFF Gillan and SGT Avery) were tasked to conduct armed reconnaissance of the Haeju area. Over township Chwiya Ri, FLGOFF Gillan radioed that he had been hit and was heading back to home plate. After SGT Avery completed his strafing pass he pulled up and to join with FLGOFFGillan who was at 600 feet AGL. SGT Avery noted fuel streaming from FLGOFF Gillan’s aircraft and radioed this information to him. SGT Avery received no reply to this or a previous transmission. Smoke replaced the fuel streaming from Gillan’s aircraft and SGT Avery saw small pieces falling from the cockpit area. Flames appeared from the fuselage and at this time SGT Avery overtook FLGOFF Gillan’s aircraft at 200 feet AGL and noted that the canopy, seat and pilot were missing. SGT Avery searched the area back to where FLGOFF Gillan was hit with no result. 77SQN Meteors searched the incident area and on the following day located Gillan’s aircraft in Haeju Bay on a mud bank. FLGOFF Gillan is unlikely to have survived as the ejection was commenced outside of the ejection seat envelope. LKP is listed as TOKYO GRID YC 3208 latitude and longitude 37°59' 47.19N 125 38 24.98E.
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