FONTAINE, Peter
| Service Number: | 415940 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 April 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Pilot Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 460 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Fremantle Western Australia , 3 October 1921 |
| Home Town: | East Fremantle, East Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Near Stuttgart Germany, 19 October 1944, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany Coll. Grave 8. Row C. Grave 26-30 Roll of Honour - Fremantle Western Australia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Pilot Officer, 415940 | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 415940 | |
| 5 Dec 1942: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman | |
| 29 Jul 1943: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant | |
| 30 Aug 1943: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 415940 | |
| 29 Jan 1944: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant | |
| 17 Jul 1944: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer | |
| 28 Sep 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 415940, No. 460 Squadron (RAAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 |
19 October 1944
Peter Fontaine served in 460 Squadron, part of Bomber Command based at Binbrook, England.
On the night of 19 October 1944 he was in a plane which took part in a raid on Stuttgart. The aircraft was a four-engined Lancaster bomber from 460 Squadron. 460 Squadron was predominantly made up of Australian RAAF personnel. The plane's squadron lettering was AR-Z and serial number PB152. The other crew members were:
Pilot Flight Officer Peter FONTAINE (Australian)
Engineer Sergeant Arthur CHISMAN (English)
Navigator Warrant Officer Reginald George Bain (Australian)
Bomb Aimer Flight Officer Charles MIDDLETON (Australian)
Wireless Operator Flight Sergeant George NEWMAN (Australian)
Mid-upper Gunner Warrant Officer Reginald KRUTLI (Australian)
Tail Gunner Flight Sergeant Edward KENEALY (Australian)
The plane was shot down by a German Junkers 88 night fighter near Tubingen, Germany. The only survivor was the Navigator, Reginald George BAIN. His account of the night and his subsequent time as a POW can be found under his name on this VWMA website. In 2003, Reg Bain fulfilled a life-long wish to return to Germany to pay his respects to his fellow crew members. He visited the site of their crash near Tubingen and their graves in Durnbach War Cemetery.
Submitted 24 April 2020 by Susan Weisser
Click images to start slideshow.