Ralph Henry WILLIAMS

Ralph Henry WILLIAMS Update Details

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WILLIAMS, Ralph Henry

Service Number:	410391
Enlisted:	6 December 1941
Last Rank:	Pilot Officer
Last Unit:	No. 2 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Footscray, Victoria, Australia, 31 May 1913
Home Town:	Moonee Ponds, Moonee Valley, Victoria
Schooling:	Carnegie State School and Dandenong High School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation:	Textile worker
Died:	Flying Battle, Timor Sea, Netherlands East Indies, 8 September 1943, aged 30 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials:	Adelaide River Northern Territory Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, No 2 Squadron RAAF Roll of Honour

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Pilot Officer, 410391
6 Dec 1941:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, No. 2 Squadron (RAAF)
6 Dec 1941:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 410391
8 Sep 1943:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 410391, No. 2 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SE Asia 1941-45

Help us honour Ralph Henry Williams's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by David Barlow

RAAF Lockheed Hudson aircraft A16-233 of Number 2 Squadron was shot down into the Timor Sea near Tanimbar Island while attacking a Japanese armed Merchant vessel - three crewmen were KIA and are commemorated on the Northern Territory Memorial to the Missing located at Adelaide River War Cemetery, NT -

Pilot Officer Ralph Henry Williams 410391 - Son of David Alexander and Edith Williams & Husband of Nancy Williams of Moonee Ponds, Victoria

Flying Officer Lynnton Ainsley Martin 408816 - Son of James Lewis Martin and Mary Jane Martin & Husband of Norah Martin of Mornington, Victoria

Pilot Officer Marcus Cedric Wettenhall 408818 - Son of Marcus Edwy and Leila Wettenhall & Husband of Ada Marion Wettenhall of Rosedale, Victoria

The other two crewmen were able to bail out and were taken prisoner by the crew of the ship they had been attacking (8 September 1943). Eventually the two survivors were handed over to the Kenpeitai (Kempei Tai - Japanese Special Police) and were executed by beheading at Ambon sometime in October 1943

Extensive post-war investigations and interrogations led to the recovery of their remains and the killers being brought to trial. Buried in Ambon War Cemetery are:

Flight Sergeant Morris Anthony Graham 410337 - Son of James and Violet May Graham of Thornbury, Victoria

Flight Sergeant Jack William Robinson Boanas 417331 - Son of William and Willehmina Elsie Boanas & Husband of Mary Berenice Boanas of Darlinghurst, NSW

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia