Alfred Henry GIDLEY

Alfred Henry GIDLEY Update Details

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GIDLEY, Alfred Henry

Service Number:	415975
Enlisted:	26 April 1942
Last Rank:	Warrant Officer
Last Unit:	RAAF Telecommunications and Communications Units
Born:	Fremantle, Western Australia, 5 January 1914
Home Town:	Wiluna, Wiluna, Western Australia
Schooling:	Christian Brothers College Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Occupation:	Pipe Fitter
Died:	Aircraft accident, Higgins Field, Queensland, Australia, Higgins Field, Bamaga, Cape York, Queensland, Australia, 5 May 1945, aged 31 years
Cemetery:	Townsville War Cemetery, Queensland, Australia E.C.9.,
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bamaga DC3 Aircraft Crash Memorial

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Warrant Officer, 415975
26 Apr 1942:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), Aircrew Training Units
26 Apr 1942:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 415975, RAAF Telecommunications and Communications Units
5 May 1945:	Involvement Warrant Officer, RAAF Telecommunications and Communications Units

Help us honour Alfred Henry Gidley's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by David Barlow

Douglas C-49H (DC-3) VH-CXD / USAAF # 44-83228 was operated by Australian National Airways (A.N.A.) under charter for military purposes and utilising RAAF aircrew as required.

The aircraft was circling to land at Higgins Field in far north Queensland when it struck the top of a hill while landing in darkness. It crashed and the crew and passengers were incinerated.

RAAF Personnel of Number 4 Communications Unit, Archerfield - buried at Townsville War Cemetery:

Warrant Officer James Hillman Hornbrook 432183 (2nd pilot) - Son of Doctor John Hillman Hornbrook and Marjorie Lillian Hornbrook of Strathfield, NSW

Flight Sergeant Neville Tasman Browne 436542 (2nd pilot under instruction) - Son of Horace Stanley and Hilda Blanche Browne of Mount Lawley, WA

Warrant Officer Alfred Henry Gidley 415975 Wireless Operator (Aircraft) - Son of Alfred and Anne Gidley & Husband of Elizabeth Kelly Gidley of Wiluna, WA

William Ernest Clarke was an ANA Civilian pilot operating as a member of the RAAF Reserve (Civil Aircrew) - he was posthumously provided with the rank of Flying Officer and service number 277547

He was cremated at Mount Thompson Crematorium and his ashes were interred there - Son of Alice Henrietta Clarke & Husband of Sylvia Joan Clarke of Rose Bay, NSW

Also killed were Sergeant Henry E Doherty 32337697 & Corporal Rudolph M Kozen 16022995 of 322nd Troop Carrier Wing, US Military

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia