CAIRNS, Jack Dexter
| Service Number: | 403904 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 March 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | No. 460 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Newcastle New South Wales Australia , 30 November 1919 |
| Home Town: | Waratah West, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Maitland New South Wales Australia , 13 January 2002, aged 82 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 31 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 403904 | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 403904 | |
| 1 Jan 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 403904, No. 460 Squadron (RAAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 | |
| 12 Sep 1945: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 403904 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 403904 |
My father
Born Islington NSW 30/11/1919 Died Maitland NSW 13/01/2002
Dad grew up the son of a Newsagent in Carrington NSW. In the 1930's he was an outstanding cyclist having won numerous titles. He enlisted in the RAAF in 1941 and flew a number of aircraft in his training as a pilot. He and his crew flew a number of trips in a Halifax heavy bomber. On the night of 15 February 1944 he and his crew had to bail out of their stricken aircraft only to be captured and spend the remainder of the war as POW's. Dad and his navigator Pat Shine were incarcerated in Stalag Luft 3 and the others in other camps.
Towards the end of the war the whole camp was ordered on the Long March after which they were liberated by the British in 1945.
Submitted 14 August 2020 by Peter Cairns
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