ADA, Alan Fletcher
| Service Number: | 403297 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 January 1941, Sydney, New SouthWales |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 58 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, 16 May 1913 |
| Home Town: | Drummoyne, Canada Bay, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Boys High School |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Bay of Biscay, Bay of Biscay, Atlantic Ocean, 6 May 1942, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Runnymede Air Forces Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 6 Jan 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 403297 | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Jan 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 403297, Sydney, New SouthWales | |
| 7 Jan 1941: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, 403297 | |
| 21 May 1941: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, 403297, Embarked for Canada to participate in Empire Air Training Scheme | |
| 13 Jan 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 403297, Air War NW Europe 1939-45, No 51 Bomber Squadron RAF based at Dishforth, Yorkshire | |
| 6 May 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 403297, No. 58 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45, Missing, presumed dead, on anti submarine flight over Bay of Biscay | |
| Date unknown: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 403297 |
Help us honour Alan Fletcher Ada's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography
Eldest son of William Leslie and Erica Maude Ada, of Drummoyne, New South Wales, Australia, Allan Fletcher Ada worked as a Delivery Clerk in a Furniture factory when he enlisted in the RAAF on 6 January 1941.
He was posted to No.2 I.T.S. Linfield and then to No. 5 Elementary Flight Training School at Narromine learning to fly in Tiger Moths (DH82). In May 1941 he embarked for Canada and the No. 7 Service Flying Training School at McLeod, Alberta to train under the Empire Air Training Scheme. Here he learned to fly the twin engined Avron Anson aircraft. At the end of August 1941 he was shipped east to join a ship to England. Now a Flight Sergeant, he was transferred to No. 19 Operational Training Unit at Kinloss, Morayshire in Scotland.
Here he was taught to fly the Whitley 5 bomber and was assessed as being an 'Above the Average' pilot. In January 1942 he transferred to No.51 bomber squadron at Dishforth in Yorkshire, and did his first operational bombing run over the German port of Emden on January 21, 1942. He flew two more bombing operations over Germany and France in the Whitley V bomber before being transferred to No. 58 Squadron Coastal Command at St Eval, Cornwall.
In May 1942 he completed 2 antisubmarine patrols but disappeared on his third patrol on May 6 with Flight Sergeant Stobie and crew over the Bay of Biscay.
His letters home show him to be a respectful and enthusiastic person taking in the sights and sounds of the places he was posted to - enjoying the beauty of Alberta and the life in London during his leave periods.
Click images to start slideshow.