Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alan Hamilton Bradford was born on 22nd July 1923 at Warwick QLD, the youngest of 8 children and the 4th son born to his parents Alfred and Nellie Bradford.  He had 4 sisters…Jessie, Helen, Sarah and Winifred…and 3 brothers…Alfred, Leonard and Eric.  After completing his education at the local school at Mt Colliery he went on to be a farm labourer and teamster.  He also enjoyed playing tennis.

On 17th July 1942, aged 18, Alan enlisted for WW2 in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at Brisbane QLD.  His service number was 426494, his rank Aircraftman 2 and he was posted to No. 2 Initial Training School (2ITS) at Bradfield Park NSW.  He’s described as being 5ft 6ins tall with a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. 

In early September 1942 he was promoted to Leading Aircraftman (LAC) and posted to No. 3 Wireless Air Gunner School (3WAGS) at Maryborough QLD.   He remained there till early March 1943 when he was posted to No. 1 Bombing Air Gunnery School at Evans Head NSW.  In early April 1943 he was re-mustered as Wireless Operator Air Gunner (WOAG) and received his Air Gunner Brevet.  The “AG” brevet was worn by air gunners serving in the RAAF and their role was to use the aircraft’s machine-guns to fight off the enemy when under attack.  Otherwise they assisted with observation and navigation, and often sent and received wireless signals.  He then proceeded to No. 3 Embarkation Depot (3ED) at Sandgate QLD.  In late June 1943 he proceeded to No. 3 Operational Training Unit (3OTU) at Rathmines NSW where he completed a training course for flying boat crew. 

On 15th November 1943 Alan married Joyce Elsie Munton in Queensland then reported to No. 1 Reserve Personnel Pool (1RPP) at Townsville QLD on 1st December 1943.  Eleven days later he was transferred to RAAF 20 Squadron based at Cairns where he began operational flights in the South Western Pacific Area (SWPA).  The SWPA included the Philippines, Borneo, the Dutch East Indies (excluding Sumatra), East Timor, Australia, the Territories of Papua and New Guinea, and the western part of the Solomon Islands.

RAAF 20 Squadron consisted of Catalina flying boats that initially conducted long-range patrols between bases scattered around the islands north of Australia.  However, in June 1943 it’s role changed to mine-laying operations over the Netherlands East Indies and the Philippines, though it continued to make some bombing raids and supply drops.  The Catalinas had the highest loss of rate of any RAAF aircraft in the SWPA with 320 airmen failing to return while flying Catalinas in the South West Pacific campaigns during WW2. 

Alan was appointed Temporary Flight Sergeant on 1st January 1944 and then re-mustered as Wireless Operator in early March 1944.  In June 1944 he proceeded on temporary duty to the Dutch East Indies. 

In mid-September 1944 Alan proceeded to No. 3 Personnel Depot (3PD) at Sandgate QLD then in late November 1944 he proceeded to the Air Armament and Gas School (AAGS) at Somers VIC.  On 6th December 1944 he was transferred to RAAF 37 Squadron based at Laverton VIC.  It consisted of Lodestar and Dakota transports and conducted courier flights to New Guinea.  By mid-1944, the Squadron had expanded its operations to New Guinea, making courier flights to Merauke initially then later to Wewak, Noemfoor and Hollandia.  The Squadron transferred to Essendon VIC in September 1944 and was 1 of 8 Australian transport squadrons, all of which operated under the control of RAAF Headquarters, Melbourne.  Their primary duty was supporting the Australian military, though they could also be released for urgent requests by General Douglas MacArthur's South West Pacific Area headquarters.

Alan was promoted to Warrant Officer on 1st January 1945 and in February proceeded to Morotai for 3 days.  In late March 1945 he proceeded to 3ED at Sandgate QLD and was discharged on 28th May 1945.  It is noted in his service record that he was a good rifle shot and that he had completed 11 operational sorties and 18 other operations. 

Alan and Joyce welcomed 4 children into their family…Jeffrey, Russell, Marilyn and Dale.  Alan passed away on 16th April 2015 at Brisbane QLD aged 91. 

Alan Hamilton Bradford was awarded for service in WW2 the 1939-1945 Star, War Medal 1939-1945 and the Australia Service Medal.

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 1st March 2023.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._20_Squadron_RAAF

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._20_Squadron_RAAF

https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/ww2/display/90955-catalina-memorial

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._37_Squadron_RAAF