William Allan (Pedro) PEDRINA

PEDRINA, William Allan

Service Number: 264
Enlisted: 17 January 1938
Last Rank: Squadron Leader
Last Unit: No. 1 Operational Training Unit (RAAF) Nhill, Bairnsdale, East Sale
Born: Hamilton, Victoria, Australia, 20 May 1919
Home Town: Hamilton, Southern Grampians, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Engineer's Assistant
Died: Flying Battle, New Guinea, 15 December 1942, aged 23 years
Cemetery: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea
A6. E. 20.
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bairnsdale Royal Australian Air Force Memorial, Hamilton Pedrina Memorial Plaque, Hamilton War Memorial
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World War 2 Service

17 Jan 1938: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 264, No. 1 Operational Training Unit (RAAF) Nhill, Bairnsdale, East Sale, Point Cook, Vic.
17 Jan 1938: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 264
3 Sep 1939: Involvement Squadron Leader, 264

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of William Daniel and Maude Pedrina; husband of Ethel Pedrina, of Hamilton, Victoria

He was flying Lockheed Hudson A16-36 with No.1 O.T.U, which was of several training aircraft used to fly supplies over the Owen Stanley Ranges to troops on the north coast of New Guinea.

MELBOURNE, Dec 22.—Squadron-Leader William Allen Pedrina, DFC, one of the first 3 Australian airmen to win an award in the Australian battle zone, has lost his life in air operations in New Guinea. Two other members of his crew who were killed were Flying-Officer Donald Beviss Kerr (23), single, of Medindie, SA, and Sgt Arthur Rupert Itzerott (23), single, of Murrumbeena, Victoria. A third member of the crew, Sgt Leo Charles Callaghan (27), single, formerly a Qantas ground engineer in Sydney, was seriously injured. Squadron-Leader Pedrina was one of the RAAF's most outstanding Hudson pilots. His decoration was gained for his daring exploits when Australia was faced with invasion. Up to the time of his award he was constantly engaged on reconnaissance over enemy-occupied territory. His skill as a pilot, his courage in face of stern opposition and his remarkable determination resulted in clear and valuable photographs being obtained under the most difficult conditions. He enlisted in the RAAF in January, 1938. For some time before his return to operations in the north he was an instructor at a bomber reconnaissance operational training unit "somewhere in Australia." 
West Australian (Perth), 23 December 1942.

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