Leonard Graham FULLER

Leonard Graham FULLER Update Details

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FULLER, Leonard Graham

Service Number:	402052
Enlisted:	29 April 1940
Last Rank:	Flying Officer
Last Unit:	No. 1 Operational Training Unit (RAAF) Nhill, Bairnsdale, East Sale
Born:	Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia, 9 August 1918
Home Town:	Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Not yet discovered
Died:	Ground Accident, Sale, Victoria, Australia, 18 March 1944, aged 25 years
Cemetery:	Sale War Cemetery, Victoria Plot B Row B Grave 8,
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bairnsdale Royal Australian Air Force Memorial, Gundagai War Memorial

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Flying Officer, 402052
29 Apr 1940:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, Aircrew Training Units
29 Apr 1940:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 402052
18 Mar 1944:	Involvement Flying Officer, No. 1 Operational Training Unit (RAAF) Nhill, Bairnsdale, East Sale

Help us honour Leonard Graham Fuller's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by David Barlow

Leading Aircraftman (LAC) Leonard Graham Fuller 402052 landed an Anson aircraft with another Anson attached following a mid-air collision while undergoing pilot training at Number 2 Service Flying Training School (2SFTS) Wagga on 29 September 1940

The two aircraft remained firmly locked together and continued to fly after the collision with LAC Fuller in control of the upper Anson (N4876) while his navigator, 402066 LAC Ian Sinclair, and both crew members of the lower aircraft (402056 LAC Jack Hewson and 402051 LAC Hugh Fraser) all parachuted to safety. He was able to make a successful crash landing in a paddock.

As part of the Empire Air Training Scheme he finished his training in Canada and after graduating as a Sergeant Pilot he was posted to the UK

From there he was attached to Number 37 Squadron (37SQN) RAF in the Middle East flying Wellington bombers over Italy - he was awarded the DFM (Distinguished Flying Medal) for his sinking of enemy shipping in Palermo Harbour

Upon being commissioned as a Flying Officer he returned to Australia and was posted to Number 1 Operational Training Unit (1OTU) based at East Sale in Victoria for Flying Instructor duties - unfortunately he was killed in a collision between a motor bus and his bicycle on Heart Road, East Sale, Victoria

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