Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alan was educated at Wedderburn and Campbelltown schools and later was a boarder at Hurlstone Agricultural College at Glenfield. On leaving school he worked for Romano's, the Restaurant, as jobs were hard to find. He then worked as a driver and handyman for the
Secretary of the Postmaster-General's Dept. Finally, he did an advanced course in welding and was employed making refrigerators. He regretted being one half an inch too short to join the Police Force. Early in 1941 he joined the R.A.A.F. for Air Crew training and was sent to Canada under the Canadian Air Training Scheme as Sgt Knight A. Aust. 403519. He qualified as a wireless operator (air) at No 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg Manitoba on 25/9/41. Then he qualified as Wireless Operator Air Gunner at No 7 B&G School on 25/10/41. On 18/11/41 he passed the night vision test ("exceptional") at Paulson, Manitoba. By March, 1942 he was in England doing Air Crew Training at Cottesmore, Rutland, flying Hampdens. Training finished in 14/6/42 and he earned a medal. He then joined 49 Squadron, Scampton on 11/7/42 where he flew with various "flights" until he joined 1654 "Con" Flight "C" and teamed up with F/Sgt Skinner, pilot. Alan flew with F/Sgt Skinner in R.A.F. Manchesters and Lancasters with very few exceptions until they
were shot down 7 miles off the coast at Lorient in Lancaster No U-4832 on 7/2/1943. The Red Cross reported that a German Crash Boat had found the bodies of the pilot and navigator only.
(The crew had previously survived a crash landing at Barkstone after having been shot up on 26/1/43). Alan's name is recorded on panel 125 at the Australian War memorial in Canberra. He was survived by his parents Charles Frederick Knight and Grace Knight. Also his brothers Charles Henry Knight (my father) and Neal Victor Knight and his sister Joan Ausley.