FRENCH, William James
| Service Number: | 10429 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 May 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | No. 11 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 27 November 1910 |
| Home Town: | Brunswick, Moreland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Accidental (Aircraft accident), Cleveland Bay, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 27 February 1942, aged 31 years |
| Cemetery: |
Townsville War Cemetery, Queensland, Australia A.A.6., Townsville War Cemetery, Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Corporal, 10429 | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), RAAF Ground Training Schools | |
| 31 May 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 10429, No. 11 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 27 Feb 1942: | Involvement Corporal, No. 11 Squadron (RAAF) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by David Barlow
Flying Boat A18-12 of 33 Squadron RAAF was extensively damaged in a landing accident in Cleveland Bay near Townsville on Friday 27 February 1942 opposite the Queens Hotel. Killed in the incident were:
Pilot Officer Harold John Wagner 4215 - Son of John Henry and Catherine Wagner & Husband of Vivien Beatrice Aileen Wagner of Kingaroy, Queensland
Pilot Officer Peter Satterswaite Devonshire 407942 - Son of Lieutenant-Colonel Guy Satterswaite Devonshire and Doris Devonshire of Unley, SA
Corporal William James French 10429 - Son of William James French and Mary Jane French & Husband of Doris Ethel French of Ulverstone, Tasmania
LAC Maurice Clayton 15065 - Son of Stanley and Florence Anne Clayton of East Katoomba, NSW
Flying Officer Robert John Love 400004 - Husband of Patricia Christine Love of Potts Point, NSW
Corporal Ronald Short 15928 - Son of James and Frederica Alice Short of Pennant Hills, NSW (died 3/3)
Sergeant John Gordon Nicholson 17708 - Son of Joseph and Maud Augusta Nicholson of Fremantle, WA (body not recovered, he is memorialised on the Panel 6 of the Sydney Memorial
Corporal Ray Silvester Diggles of the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) 93900 - Daughter of George Silvester Diggles and Ida May Diggles of East Brisbane, Queensland (body not recovered, she is memorialised on the Panel 7 of the Sydney Memorial
Also on board at the time of the crash were:
Flight Sergeant Kenneth Macleay Poulton 34542 - discharged 24MAR1944
Flight Lieutenant Alan Filmer 274159 - discharged 30NOV1945
Flying Officer Leonard Charles Laurence 264288 - discharged 22DEC1943
(Short S23 C-Class S.849, Empire Flying Boat, RAAF aircraft A18-12 - G-AEUG "Coogee" was registered as VH-ABC on 26 September 1938. It was impressed to RAAF service from QANTAS on 28 August 1940. This was one of four Empire flying boats impressed into RAAF service)
Click images to start slideshow.