JOHNS, Barry Melvyn
| Service Numbers: | S24617, 437826 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 October 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Warrant Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 102 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Broken Hill, New South Wales, 24 October 1921 |
| Home Town: | Broken Hill, Broken Hill Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Broken Hill State School |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Natural causes (stroke), Reynella, South Australia, 3 March 1995, aged 73 years |
| Cemetery: |
Meadows General Cemetery, S.A. |
| Memorials: | Broken Hill Zinc Corporation Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 4 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Private, S24617, Broken Hill, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, S24617 | |
| 5 Oct 1941: | Involvement Private, S24617 | |
| 2 Apr 1943: | Discharged Private, S24617, 43 Infantry Battalion AMF | |
| 3 Apr 1943: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 437826 | |
| 3 Apr 1943: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 437826, Adelaide, South Australia | |
| 4 Apr 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 437826 | |
| 7 Nov 1944: | Promoted Flight Sergeant | |
| 7 Nov 1945: | Promoted Warrant Officer, No. 102 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 14 Mar 1946: | Discharged Warrant Officer, 437826, No. 102 Squadron (RAAF) |
Help us honour Barry Melvyn Johns's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography
S24617 Pte. Barry Melville JOHNS - 43rd Infantry Battalion (AMF)
Private Barry Johns enlisted into the Citizens Military forces on the 4th day of October 1941 at Broken Hill NSW. He was allotted CMF number S24617. He was taken on strength on the 15th day of October 1941 with the 43rd Battalion, training at Keswick. On the 19th December 1941 the Battalion began retraining for Darwin.
He departed Adelaide on the 26th December 1941 arriving the 14th January 1942 in Darwin and endured the bombing of Darwin whilst expecting the evasion of Japanese Imperial Troops. After over a year in the Northern Territory he left for Broken Hill and South Australia and in February 1943. On the 2nd of April 1943 he discharged from the 43rd Battalion Australian Military and transferred for full time service with the Royal Australian Air force.
____________________________________________________________
437826 W.O. Barry Melville JOHNS - 85 Wing - Heavy Bomber, 102 Squadron RAAF
Warrant Officer Barry Johns enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force on the 3rd day of April 1943 at Wayville SA. He was allotted RAAF number 437826 with the rank of Aircraft Class 11 – Aircrew V .
He began his training instructions at No 4 Initial Training School, at Mt Brecken, Victor Harbor SA on the 3rd day of April 1943 till the 22nd day of August 1943.He gained promotion to Aircraft Class – Aircrew V (P) on the 16th day of June 1943 and Leading Aircraftsman - Aircrew 11(P) on the 17th day of July 1943
He began his flying instructions at Parafield SA on the 23rd day of August 1943 in De Havilland Tiger Moth’s 82 and completed this training on the 19th day of November 1943 with 66 hours and 20 minutes flying experience. Barry Johns then moved to RAAF No.6 Service Flight Advanced Training School at Mallala on the 21st day of November 1943 successfully flying the Airspeed Oxford BM series and the Link Trainer AM until the completion of this training on the 7th day of May 1944 accumulating a further 115 hours of flying and being promoted to Sergeant- Airman Pilot and receiving his Pilots Badge on the 30th day of April 1944.
Barry Johns transferred to General Reconnaissance School Bairnsdale VIC flying the Avro Anson and the Airspeed Oxford and began Number 17 GR Pilots Course on the 15th day of May 1944. He completed this with 221 hours of flying on the 24th day of January 1945 during which time he obtained the rank of Flight Sergeant (7th November 1944) .
He then moved to 7 Operational Training Unit Tocumwal NSW on the 19th day of February 1945 to complete No 10 Liberator “Rio Rita” O/T Course and a further 130 hours of flying and qualified No 2 Pilot “Heavy bomber” status on the 5th of May 1945.
On the 9th day of July 1945 he was assigned to 102 Squadron Amberley Airfield QLD to complete another 151 hours of flying during which he was promoted to Warrant Officer - Airman Pilot on the 7th day of November 1945.
At the end of the war in the Pacific 102 Squadron was employed largely in the transport and ferry role and flew to Finschhafen, Morotai and Bougainville, bringing supplies to Australian forces still stationed throughout the South-West Pacific, and repatriating time-expired troops. 102 Squadron ceased flying operations in December of 1945 and the unit was disbanded completely on the 18th day of March 1946.
102 Squadron code - BV
Motto: "Tenate et Perficite" (Attempt and Achieve)
Warrant Officer Barry Johns was discharged from the RAAF on the 14th day of March 1946.
He served for: 534 days total service in army
377 days active service in army
1076 days in RAAF
1610 days service
Awarded for Service during the 2nd World War 1939-1945
1939 – 1945 Star - Awarded for 6 months operational services between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945
Defence Medal - Awarded for 6 months service in non-operational areas subjected to air attack, or closely threatened, or 12 months non-operational service.
War Medal 1939-1945 - Awarded for full time duty personnel of the armed forces for 28 days service.
Australia Service Medal 1939-1945 - Awarded for 30 days full time service or 90 days part time service at home or overseas in the Australian Armed forces between 3rd September 1939 and 2nd September 1945
Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 - Awarded for service in a prescribed non-warlike operations during the period commencing on 3 September 1945
Click images to start slideshow.