HERMAN, James Alexander
| Service Number: | 407713 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 January 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 32 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, 6 August 1913 |
| Home Town: | Kilkenny, Charles Sturt, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | School Teacher |
| Died: | Accidental air crash, Giru, Queensland, Giru, Queensland, Australia, 24 May 1942, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, American River War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Giru Hudson Bomber Crash Memorial, Penneshaw Dudley District Hall Roll of Honour WW2, Penneshaw War Memorial, St Clair Woodville High School Honour Roll, Sydney Memorial (Sydney War Cemetery) Rookwood |
World War 2 Service
| 4 Jan 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 407713, Aircrew Training Units, Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Jan 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 407713 | |
| 5 Jan 1941: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 407713, Aircrew Training Units, Empire Air Training Scheme, Posted 5 ITS Pearce, 9 EFTS Cunderdin (which presumably meant he commenced but did not complete pilot training) 5 ITS Pearce (remustering?) 1 Wireless Air Gunnery School Ballarat 9 Basic Air Gunnery School Port Pirie at which point he qualified as a Wireless Operator / Air Gunner | |
| 1 Feb 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 407713, No. 7 Squadron (RAAF), Homeland Defence - Militia and non deployed forces | |
| 1 Apr 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 407713, No. 32 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SW Pacific 1941-45 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement |
Help us honour James Alexander Herman's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Steve Larkins
Aircraftman (AC), later Sergeant (Sgt) No. 32 Squadron RAAF, James Alexander Herman, of Kilkenny, SA.
AC Herman was a school teacher prior to enlisting on 4 January 1941. Between January 1941 and February 1942 he trained in Australia as a wireless operator/air gunner. He was promoted to Sergeant on 1 May 1942.
In March he was briefly attached to No. 7 Squadron based at Laverton, Vic.
The next month he became a member of No. 32 Squadron making supply flights between North Queensland and Port Moresby, New Guinea. On the morning of 24 May 1942 he was a crew member of Hudson A16-91 flying in formation between Rockhampton and Townsville. The aircraft collided with another and both crashed near Giru, Qld. All three crew members on board A16-91 were killed. The crew of the other aircraft survived with only minor injuries.
Sgt Herman was 28 years of age. Private Herman's brother, 407030 Sgt Ronald McGregor Herman, 37 Squadron, was also a wireless operator/air gunner. Aged 22 he too was killed in a mid-air collision, over Luga Malta.
Click images to start slideshow.