FREETH, John Samuel
| Service Number: | 411768 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 May 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 455 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Coogee, Randwick, New South Wales, 23 May 1920 |
| Home Town: | Coogee, Randwick, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Jewelry Salesman Angus & Coote Sydney |
| Died: | Accidental (Flying Accident), North Sea, North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, 24 May 1943, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Runnymede Air Forces Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 25 May 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 411768, Aircrew Training Units | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 May 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 411768, No. 455 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 26 May 1941: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 411768, Aircrew Training Units, Empire Air Training Scheme, 2 ITS Sydney No. 8 EFTS Narrandera No. 2 ED Bradfield Park No. 3 Service Flying Training School Calgary Canada No. 32 Operational Training Unit Patricia Bay No. 1 Depot Halifax 3 RRC 5 Conversion Training Unit | |
| 10 Jan 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 411768, No. 455 Squadron (RAAF), Battle of the Atlantic - RAN and RAAF Operations, Killed in a flying accident 24 May 1943 over the North Sea soon after having successfully attacked and sunk a German U-Boat U227 on 30 April 1943 |
The Death of U-227
30 April 1943
The spring of 1943 saw desperate British efforts to cover the 'Northern Transit Zone' between the Shetland and Faeroe islands, where U-boats leaving Germany entered the Atlantic. Part of this effort included patrols by twin-engined Hampden torpedo bombers of 455 RAAF Squadron. The Australian crews had to improvise, without any specialised training or equipment for this role. They flew many lonely missions in their slow and obsolete aircraft, which also lacked search radar. Despite this, Hampden X/455, flying from Sumburgh in the Orkneys, at the far northern tip of the UK, spotted U-227 north of the Shetlands. The Hampden's pilot, Sergeant J. S. Freeth, executed two accurate depth-charge attacks to sink the boat. None of the U-boat men survived. They had been outward bound on their maiden voyage.
Sgt Freeth was killed in a flying accident three weeks later.
Story courtesy http://www.3squadron.org.au/subpages/raaf.htm
Submitted 1 January 2017 by Steve Larkins
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