KNIGHT, Frank
| Service Number: | 415536 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 November 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No.104 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Perth Western Australia , 22 April 1923 |
| Home Town: | Midland Junction, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Midland Junction Central School Perth Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Shop Assistant |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Mediterranean Sea, 30 October 1943, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Malta Memorial Floriana Italy, Malta Memorial, Malta |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Malta Memorial, Floriana |
World War 2 Service
| 9 Nov 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 415536, No. 5 Initial Training School Pearce | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 415536 | |
| 30 Sep 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 415536, Operational Training Units (RAF), Middle East / Mediterranean Theatre, 21 Operational Training Unit (RAF) | |
| 15 Oct 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 415536, No.104 Squadron (RAF), Middle East / Mediterranean Theatre |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Geoff Tilley
Frank Knight was born at Perth, Western Australia in April 1923 to parents Walter Bennett and Gladys Margaret Knight of Midland Junction, Western Australia. He was the eldest of two to his parents.
Frank attended the Midland Junction Central School between 1935 – 1937 where he was active in the sports of football and swimming at school. On completion of his schooling Frank worked as a junior shop assistant for Aitken Stores Ltd in Midland Junction.
Frank enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in November 1941 at Perth for aircrew. He conducted aircrew training in Victoria and in September 1942 was assigned as a wireless operator air gunner (WOAG) attaining the rank as Flight Sergeant.
In January 1943 Frank embarked from Melbourne, Victoria for England where he was transferred to No 104 Squadron Royal Air Force (RAF) which operated twin engine Vickers Wellington bombers from the Middle East.
In October 1943 the squadron was operating out of captured airfields in Tunisia. It was on the 30th October 1943 that Frank was a crew member of Wellington bomber number HE611, he was the only Australian of the five-man crew when it took off from Hani West Landing ground Tunisia at 1620 hours for a raid on the Perugia Landing ground Italy.
No communication was heard from Frank’s bomber after it took off or during the raid as the Wellington bomber never returned to base. Post war investigations recorded the aircrew as missing with the aircrew having no known graves. It was probable due to the considerable distance the bomber flew over the ocean from North Africa to Italy that it crashed into the Tyrrhenian Sea. His death is officially recorded as Missing on Air Operations on 30th October 1943 over the Mediterranean Sea.
Flight Sergeant Frank Knight was 20 years of age and is remembered with honour.
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