Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Walter William Beresford GALE Update Details

If you confirm that you want to proceed with the update, this record will be locked for editing by all other users until you have finished. You will have 7 days to complete your changes before they will be automatically submitted. 

Do you want to proceed?

Cancel

Coming Soon.

GALE, Walter William Beresford

• Personal Details
• Service History
• Personal Stories

Step 1: Personal Details

Service Number:	406243
Enlisted:	7 October 1940
Last Rank:	Squadron Leader
Last Unit:	No. 451 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Geraldton, Western Australia, 14 July 1920
Home Town:	Geraldton, Western Australia
Schooling:	Geraldton & Guildford Grammar School, WA
Occupation:	Bank Manager
Died:	Flying Battle, Toscana, Italy, 17 July 1944, aged 24 years
Cemetery:	Florence War Cemetery, Italy I. J. 18. Memorial: Bunbury Cemetery Western Australia Methodist section A Grave 274.
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

Show Relationships

Step 2: Service History

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Squadron Leader, 406243
7 Oct 1940:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 406243, No. 451 Squadron (RAAF), Extract from Herington, J. (John) (406545) Air War Over Europe 1944-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1963 – Page 256 Two aircraft were covering the Napoli-Pisa area and two the Florence-Pisa area independently. Squadron Leader Gale was presumably hit by anti-aircraft fire. The incident occurred at 0635 hours. Spitfire MK267 was seen from 2,000 feet by his No 2 Flight Sergeant Godfrey Massey Ball (404227) about 300 feet above the ground and pouring white smoke. Flight Sergeant Ball then lost sight of the aircraft momentarily while he was doing a tight turn. A few seconds after Ball saw fire on the ground, which he considered almost certainly to be an aircraft burning. Ball circled taking camera gun shots for about 8 seconds. These however were not successful. Ball was then forced to withdraw as the anti-aircraft fire was intense and accurate.
7 Oct 1940:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 406243

Step 3: Personal Stories

Submit a Story

* Title

* Content

Help us honour Walter William Beresford Gale's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Add my story

Biography contributed

Walter Wlliam Beresford GALE was born in Geraldton, Western Australia on 14th July, 1920

His parents were Edwin GALE & Alice Elizabeth BRITTAIN who married in Bunbury, WA in 1917

Walter Wlliam Beresford GALE was born in Geraldton, Western Australia on 14th July, 1920

His parents were Edwin GALE & Alice Elizabeth BRITTAIN who married in Bunbury, WA in 1917

Make a Dedication

Showing 4 of 4 images.
Click images to start slideshow.

Upload a Picture

Links and Documents

• Research Links

• AWM WW2 Roll of Honour
• CWGC - Florence War Cemetery
• DVA WW2 Nominal Roll
• Find A Grave - Florence War Cemetery
• Honour Avenues Group Kings Park
• Memorial: Bunbury Cemetery
• NAA WW2 RAAF Records
• RAAFA Aviation Heritage Museum
• RAF Commands

Add a Link or Document

• Add a Link
• Add a Document

* Link text

* URL

Cancel

* File

Choose a file

* Name

Cancel

Date taken Year 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 Month January February March April May June July August September October November December Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Enter date, or part of, if known.

Caption

Attribution *

That in submitting this image that you confirm that you either own the image, is part of a family collection, can be used under CC license, or that the owner or creator has given permission for upload to the VWMA

Cancel

Please enter a reason for this report below and submit.

Reason for report*

Cancel

Please enter a reason for this report below and submit.

Reason for report*

Cancel