DALE, Arthur Robert
| Service Number: | 40706 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 May 1941, Melbourne, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 31 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Casterton, Victoria, Australia , 16 December 1919 |
| Home Town: | Windsor, Stonnington, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Casterton Higher Elementary School |
| Occupation: | Watch Repair Assistant and Salesman |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies, 15 March 1943, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Sergeant, 40706 | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 May 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 40706, No. 31 Squadron (RAAF), Melbourne, Vic. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Mari Walker
Son of William Thomas Dale and Kate Dale, of Casterton, Victoria, Australia.
Sgt Arthur Robert DALE applied to join the RAAF in 1939 but wasn’t accepted initially. He was later successful, enlisting on 16 May 1941, as a Trainee Wireless Operator.
Sgt Dale was attached to No. 31 Squadron and on 15th March 1943 he was in Beaufighter aircraft A19-79 which was engaged in attacking shipping in the vicinity of the Aroe Islands.
[The Beaufighter was one of the few aircraft operated by the RAAF in both the NW Europe and SW Pacific theatres of war. It was a twin engine strike aircraft and had a crew of two; a pilot and an observer. It was fast, very heavily armed and with a distinctive engine noise, and were well regarded by their crews.]
The crew consisted of Flying Officer Albert E Longoni and Sgt Dale. The aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire in the port engine and burst into flames. The aircraft flew for a short time, burning fiercely, and then rolled several times to the left and dived into the sea.
It is believed that both F/O Longoni and Sgt Dale did not survive and were presumed deceased on 15th March 1943. Their names are memorialised on the Ambon Memorial in Indonesia.
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