GILMORE, William Emerson
| Service Number: | 8685 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 February 1940, Laverton, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Warrant Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 78 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Allora, Queensland, Australia, 10 October 1917 |
| Home Town: | Allora, Southern Downs, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Off Hai Island, Kai Islands, Maluku Province, NEI, 14 October 1944, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Allora WW2 Memorial, Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Maryborough No. 3 Wireless Air Gunners' School Memorial Wall, Maryborough Staff Pilots No. 3 Wireless Air Gunners' School RAAF Honour Board, Warwick War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Warrant Officer, 8685 | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Feb 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 8685, No. 78 Squadron (RAAF), Laverton, Vic. |
Help us honour William Emerson Gilmore's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Mari Walker
Son of William and Alice Ruth Gilmore, of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.
W/O William Gilmore, serving with No. 78 Squadron, was flying Kitty Hawk P40N A29-487 on 14 October 1944. His aircraft was one of four aircraft accompanying a United States Catalina which had been detailed to search for a pilot who was missing from a raid over the Kai Islands on the previous day. Prior to joining up for the return, the section leader noted that W/O Gilmore’s aircraft was missing and although he could hear W/O Gilmore calling on the radio, he could not understand him. A thorough search was made at the time, and subsequently, but no trace of the aircraft or W/O Gilmore was found.
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