MULLINS, John Russell
| Service Number: | 4701 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 September 1939 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 10 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Yarrawonga, Victoria, 30 August 1915 |
| Home Town: | Yarrawonga, Moira, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Bay of Biscay, Spain, Off Spain, 31 July 1942, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Runnymede (Air Forces) Memorial, Surrey, England , Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Runnymede Air Forces Memorial, Yarrawonga War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 4 Sep 1939: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, 4701 | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Sep 1939: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 4701, No. 10 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 31 Jul 1942: | Involvement Sergeant, 4701, No. 10 Squadron (RAAF), Battle of the Atlantic - RAN and RAAF Operations |
Help us honour John Russell Mullins's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Julianne Ryan
Born: 30 August 1915 at Yarrawonga, Victoria
Father John Joseph Mullins and Mother Eunice Marie Mullins,
living at 9 Will Street, Yarrawonga, Victoria
12mths study at Collingwood Technical School
Described on enlisting as 23yrs 8mths old; single; 5' 8.5" tall; fair complexion;
blue eyes; fair hair; Roman Catholic
4/9/1939 enlisted at Eaglemont, Victoria
place of enlisting, Laveton, VIC
4/9/1939 training depot
1/11/1939 No.1 FTS (Signal School)
10/6/1940 No.6 Squdron, Richmond, VIC
15/6/1940 No.3 Squadron, Richmond, VIC
12/8/1940 No.6 Squadron, Richmond, VIC
7/10/1940 No.2 ED Bradfield Park, VIC
6/11/1940 embarked Ascot Vale
17/11/1940 embarked at Adelaide, SA onboard HMT Stratheden for active service
overseas
transferred to HMT Strathmore, at Port Said, Egypt
21/12/1940 disembarked at Liverpool, England
2/2/1941 left Liverpool by rail
3/2/1941 arrived at Mount Batten
26/4/1941 appointed Air Gunner
26/6/1941 received "Air Gunner Badge"
9/8/1941 Wireless Mechanic with 10 Squadron
1/10/1941 appointed Temporary Corporal
Sergeant in 10 Squadron (RAAF)
31/7/1942 killed in flying battle
On 31 July 1942 disappeared in the Galician coast Sunderland W3994, had departed from Mount Batten at 02:15 in antisubmarine patrol and did not turn to hear the device. The aircraft took the maximum load of anti-submarine bombs and was to carry out a patrol along the Spanish coast just outside territorial waters. No signals were received from the aircraft which failed to return from the mission.
The entire crew disappeared:-
Short Sunderland Mk II; W3994, RB-X; 10 Sqn RAAF
F/Lt Eric Bruce Martin - 280651 - RAAF
F/O Arthur Francis O'Dwyer - 405185 - RAAF
P/O Ernest F. Hamilton Frith - 403653 - RAAF
F/O Arthur Reginald Meaker - 416275 - RAAF
F/O Christopher E. Thomas Bartram - 401759 - RAAF
Sgt David Bell -. 406430 - RAAF
Sgt John Russell Mullins -. 4701 - RAAF
AC1 Nevil Thomas Cuddihy - 14521 - RAAF
Sgt Clive Thomas Bingham -. 4559 - RAAF
AC1 Garnet William White - 13891 - RAAF
Sgt Herbert Henry Fealy. - 11069 - RAAF
LAC. Charles L. Kenneth Johnson - 34754 - RAAF
"Sunderland III, W3999 of No 10 (RAAF) Squadron exploded after making a successful forced landing on the sea after being attacked by an Arado Ar 196 during an ASR patrol." courtesy of Malcolm
No known grave.
Commemorated on Panel 113 at Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Surrey, England.
His name is commemorated on Panel 100 at the Australian War Memorial,
Canberra, ACT.
Medals: 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star
Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 13/6/2016. Lest we forget.
Click images to start slideshow.