DAVIDSON, James Ernest
| Service Number: | 406923 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 May 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 22 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | South Perth, Western Australia, 16 September 1921 |
| Home Town: | Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Wesley College, South Perth, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Junior Salesman |
| Died: | Accidental, Noemfoor Island, Dutch New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies, 14 September 1944, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Panel 6 -_Lae Memorial, Lae, Papua New Guinea |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial, Lae Memorial, South Perth Wesley College Lych Gate |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Flying Officer, 406923 | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 May 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 406923 | |
| 14 Sep 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 406923, No. 22 Squadron (RAAF) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Geoff Tilley
James Ernest Davidson was born in September 1921 to parents Frank Leslie and Dorothy Davidson (nee Bushell). James was one of four siblings with older three sisters.
James’s schooling was at Cunderdin, it is believed that he was also taught by his three sisters. In 1937 attended Wesley College passing his seven subjects in his junior high school certificate.
James’s sporting interests were in tennis and boxing where he was a champion in one of the divisions he boxed. He also had a passion for motor vehicles and aircraft. He was employed as a clerk and later becoming a junior salesman with WD & HO Wills.
James enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in May 1941 as aircrew. His initial basic pilot training was conducted at Pearce, then completed at Cunderdin Elementary Flying School and Geraldton Service Flying School.
James was sent to Number 1 Operational Training Unit at Nhill, Victoria where he converted Wirraway aircraft, completing the conversion in Adelaide. He was posted to Number 12 Squadron Darwin in March 1942 flying reconnaissance and patrol missions.
In October 1942 James returned to Victoria for further pilot training completing conversion training to Beaufort and Boston bomber aircraft. At the completion of his training, he embarked overseas for New Guinea joining 22 Squadron. His time with the squadron he had accumulated 475 daylight and 112 night flying hours bombing and strafing Japanese positions.
It was on the 14th September 1944 that James was piloting a Boston bomber aircraft on a test flight from Noemfoor island when the aircraft failed to return to base. Later reports indicated the aircraft had crashed into the sea with the loss of its crew.
Flying Officer James Ernest Davidson, service number 406923 was accidently killed whilst flying Boston bomber A28-61 over Noemfoor Island, Dutch New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies on 14th September 1944. He was 22 years of age.
James has no known grave but is commemorated at the Lae Memorial, Lae, Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea.
He is remembered with honour.
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