DAY, John Alfred
| Service Number: | 431092 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 May 1943, Melbourne, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 627 Squadron |
| Born: | Wodonga, Vic., 27 February 1925 |
| Home Town: | Murrumbeena, Glen Eira, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk - Union Bank |
| Died: | Flying Battle, North Sea, North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, 28 March 1945, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial, Melbourne Union Bank of Australia Limited 'In Memoriam' WW2 Honour Roll, Runnymede Air Forces Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Flight Sergeant, 431092 | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 May 1943: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 431092, No. 627 Squadron, Melbourne, Vic. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Herbert Ray Day and Christina Mary Day, of Murrumbeena, Victoria, Australia.
Flight Sergeant Day was a member of the crew of a Mosquito aircraft detailed for special operations in the vicinity of Elbe River, Germany and which failed to return to base.
Flying Officer Barnett, a member of the crew who arrived safely in the United kingdom, stated that they were forced to ditch the aircraft slightly due west of Heligoland, dut to engine failure. The ditching was fairly successful and he and Flight Sergeant Day both managed to get out of the aircraft through the escape hatch. The dinghy had not been released and they then had to use their K type dinghy. Flight Sergeant Day had not been able to recover his from the aircraft and Flying Officer Barnett endeavoured to get him into his dinghy but was unable to do so owing to the extreme cold. Flight Sergeant Day managed to get on to the wing of the aircraft but this was not secure and he slipped away from the aircraft and is presumed to have been drowned. Flight Sergeant Day's death is presumed for official purposes to have occured on 28th March 1945.
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