Coming Soon.
TONKIN, Allan Edward Henry
Personal Details
| Service Number: | 401200 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 January 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 3 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Portarlington, Victoria, Australia, 13 March 1920 |
| Home Town: | Footscray, Maribyrnong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Libya, 14 January 1943, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Tripoli War Cemetery, Libya Plot 12. Row D. Grave 16., Tripoli War Cemetery, Tripoli, Libya |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
Service History
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Flying Officer, 401200 | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Jan 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 401200, No. 1 Initial Training School Somers | |
| 4 Jan 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 401200, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 17 Apr 1941: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, 401200, Emb. Fremantle for overseas | |
| 31 Jul 1941: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant | |
| 15 Apr 1942: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer | |
| 15 Oct 1942: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer | |
| 5 Dec 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 401200, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF), Middle East / Mediterranean Theatre |
Personal Stories
Help us honour Allan Edward Henry Tonkin's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by David Barlow
Flying Officer Tonkin 401200 in Kittyhawk FL345 of 3SQN was killed when his aircraft was shot down during an attack on the Bir Dufan airfields - he had only joined 3 Squadron the day before from an OTU
He was in a group of twelve Kittyhawk fighters from 3SQN along with twelve Kittyhawk fighters from each of 250, 260, and 450 Squadrons that escorted eighteen Boston bombers to attack the Bir Dufan airfields. The RAF attacking force was met with fierce opposition from the Luftwaffe continuously during the mission