NEILL, Garth Angus
| Service Number: | 404773 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 November 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Aircraftman 2 (WW2) |
| Last Unit: | No. 3 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 2 December 1921 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Anglican Church Grammar School, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Daba, Egypt, Middle East, 22 October 1942, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Alamein Memorial (El Alamein), Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brisbane No 3 Squadron Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 404773, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF), El Alamein | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Nov 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 404773, Brisbane, Queensland | |
| 8 Nov 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 404773, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 9 Sep 1942: | Honoured Distinguished Flying Medal, El Alamein, Behind enemy lines, a head-on attack through heavy barrage, against a number of ME 109's, destroying two and probably a third. Also destroyed a few Stukas. |
Help us honour Garth Angus Neill's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Arthur Midson
Only child of Captain Matthew and Muriel Neill. According to my mother, Garth's cousin, a very popular, handsome and delightful young man, with a great sense of humour.
Illustrating that not only the service men and women are casualties of war, Garth's death devestated his parents. Apparently, because - initially, he was listed MIA, Uncle Matt and Aunt Muriel believed he would: "Come through the front door one day." Matt died in 1963, still expecting his beloved son to come throught the door.
Uncle Matt was a tough old sea captain, yet nothing prepared him for the loss of Garth.
His loss also deeply touched his wider family...my mother, Elspeth, displayed obvious grief into her old age.
Biography contributed by David Barlow
Pilot Officer Neill DFM 404773 in Kittyhawk ET116 of 3SQN was killed when his aircraft was hit by AA fire and crashed west of Daba, Egypt - his body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial, Egypt
He was part of a large group of Kittyhawk fighters from 3SQN (medium cover), 450SQN (close cover) and 250SQN (top cover) escorting eighteen B-25 Mitchell bombers to attack German aircraft operating from Landing Ground 104 (Qotafiyah II) west of Daba in Egypt
Pilot Officer Neill has an entry in the book "Those Other Eagles" by Christopher Shores
Click images to start slideshow.