JAMES, William Charles
Service Number: | 429965 |
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Enlisted: | 10 October 1942 |
Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
Last Unit: | No. 186 Squadron (RAF) |
Born: | Rosefield, South Australia , 9 November 1923 |
Home Town: | Rosefield, South Australia |
Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
Occupation: | Railways Clerk |
Died: | Aircraft shot down by night fighter - Dresden, Dresden Germany, 14 February 1945, aged 21 years |
Cemetery: |
Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery Plot 8. Row C. Grave 11 |
Memorials: | Adelaide South Australian Railways WW1 & WW2 Honour Boards, Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial |
World War 2 Service
10 Oct 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 429965, No. 4 Initial Training School Victor Harbor | |
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11 Oct 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 429965, Aircrew Training Units, Empire Air Training Scheme | |
11 Nov 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 429965, No. 186 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 | |
11 Nov 1944: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 186 Squadron (RAF) | |
11 Dec 1944: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 186 squadron (RAF) | |
15 Feb 1945: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, No. 186 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45, Operation Thunderclap - Bombing of Dresden. Aircraft shot down by enemy night fighter | |
Date unknown: | Involvement |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Graham Padget
William Charles James was the son of John Rodda James and Mary Margaret James, of Rosefield Adelaide, South Australia
Flying Officer James Lancaster NG353 took off from RAF Stradishall at 2203 hours on the night of 13 February 1945, detailed to bomb Dresden on Operation Thunderclap. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. A Missing Research and Enquiry team later reported: “The aircraft was attacked by an enemy night fighter and crashed at Dresden on 14 February 1945.” All the crew members were killed.