William John KING

KING, William John

Service Number: 419092
Enlisted: 14 July 1942
Last Rank: Sergeant
Last Unit: No. 2 Operational Training Unit Mildura
Born: Coburg, Victoria, Australia, 12 June 1923
Home Town: Brunswick, Moreland, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Died: Aircraft accident, Mildura, Victoria, Mildura, Victoria, Australia, 3 December 1943, aged 20 years
Cemetery: Mildura (Nichols Point) Public Cemetery, Victoria
War Graves Plot C. Row B. Grave 2
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Merbein South Sergeant KING Memorial Plaque
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World War 2 Service

14 Jul 1942: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 419092, Aircrew Training Units
14 Jul 1942: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 419092
3 Dec 1943: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 419092, No. 2 Operational Training Unit Mildura, Empire Air Training Scheme, Killed in a training accident

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Biography contributed by David Barlow

Son of William John and Alice May King of Brunswick, Victoria

He was the Pilot of Kittyhawk aircraft A29-41 of Number 2 Operational Training Unit which crashed 8 miles west of Mildura, Victoria.  At the time of the crash Sergeant King was circling another Kittyhawk that had force landed nearby.

Kittyhawk A29-41 had combat service having been part of the original tranche of aircraft that left Archerfield for 75SQN at Port Moresby in April 1942

The aircraft was coded 'M' with 75SQN and had 'Schuftie' applied to both sides of the cowling (the word was derived from Arabic and meant to have a closer look at something).  It was flown by FLTLT Les Jackson and others during the '44 Days' defence of Port Moresby

Following its return to Australia and an overhaul A29-41 was allocated to 2 OTU

 

References:  ADF serials

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