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 Squadron Leader William PEDRINA Memorial Plaque, Hamilton War Memorial |
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 |
Help us honour William Allan Pedrina's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography 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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