HILLS, Ruth Ada
Service Number: | 92533 |
---|---|
Enlisted: | 9 October 1941 |
Last Rank: | Corporal |
Last Unit: | Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force |
Born: | Berry, New South Wales, Australia, 22 May 1924 |
Home Town: | Petersham, Marrickville, New South Wales |
Schooling: | Stanmore Domestic Science School and Charters Business College, New South Wales, Australia |
Occupation: | Stenographer |
Died: | Aircraft Accident, Archerfield Airfield, Queensland, Australia , Amberley, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, 27 March 1943, aged 18 years |
Cemetery: |
Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane, Qld ANZ 7 75 48 , Lutwyche Cemetery, Lutwyche, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Corporal, 92533 | |
---|---|---|
9 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Corporal, Air Force Headquarters | |
9 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 92533 | |
1 Nov 1942: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force | |
27 Mar 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 92533, Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force |
Help us honour Ruth Ada Hills's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by David Barlow
Daughter of Edward Reuben and Elsie Earl Hills of Petersham, NSW
Douglas DC3 (C-47) VH-CTB, A30-16 (A65-2) of 36 Squadron RAAF Townsville was involved in a fatal accident at Archerfield Aerodrome with a total of all 23 personnel on board killed making this the 10th Worst Air Disaster in Australia (see ozatwar for more info). The crew of four RAAF personnel were killed as were all passengers consisting of 17 Australian and 2 American personnel.
RAAF Personnel:
Flying Officer Alexander Kenn Arnold (pilot) 36 Squadron RAAF
Sergeant Joseph Hammond (co-pilot) 36 Squadron RAAF
Sergeant Lyle Carter Morgan (Wireless Operator) 36 Squadron RAAF
LAC Samuel Ivan Wiles (Fitter) 36 Squadron RAAF
Sergeant John Atherton HQ North Eastern Area, Townsville
LAC Thomas William Beckley 20 Signals Unit, Townsville
Pilot Officer David Andrew Blackley 20 Signals Unit, Townsville
LAC John Edward Chinner 3 Fighter Sector, Townsville
Sergeant Robert William Tylden Chisholm 1 Reserve Personnel Pool, Garbutt
LAC Kevin Francis Flanagan 9 Mobile Fighter Sector, Milne Bay
LAC Charles Paton Eric Fly 12 Signals Unit, Townsville
Sergeant Max Irvenia Thomas Jarvis 28 Radar Finding Unit, Fitzroy Island, Cairns
LAC Terrence Joseph Kelly 12 Signals Unit, Townsville
LAC Kenneth Owen Paton 11 Squadron, RAAF
Pilot Officer Alfred Tatlock 20 Signals Unit, Townsville
LAC Geoffrey Frederick Waters 1 Transport and Movement Office, Sydney
Corporal Thomas Keith McDowell Watt 28 Radar Finding Unit, Fitzroy Island, Cairns
WAAAF Personnel:
Corporal Violet May Gunning WAAAF Brisbane W/T Station
Corporal Ruth Ada Hills WAAAF Brisbane W/T Station
ACW Florence May Jackson WAAAF Brisbane W/T Station
Australian Army Personnel:
Lieutenant Irwin Leo Smith A.C.M.F. 2 L. of C. Sub Area, Australian Headquarters
US Army Personnel: Major Eugene H. Halliwell (0-393127) and 1st Lieutenant Francis M. Skinner (0-430024)
The DC-2's had been allocated the series A30 by the RAAF and when the first DC-3's arrived on the scene they had initially been allocated the same RAAF Series No. This was due to be rectified at a later stage when the A65 Serial No. was allocated to them. Thus VH-CTB was scheduled to be renumbered to A65-2 after 17 April 1943.
Biography contributed by Karen Standen
Corporal Ruth Ada Hills #92533
“At approx. 0514 hours on the 27/3/43 Aircraft A30-16, crashed about one mile south-south-east of Archerfield aerodrome in a locality known as Cooper’s Plains, near Brisbane, Queensland.” It was a heavily timbered area and none of the 23 military personnel onboard the RAAF Douglas C-47 Dakota survived. Described as “the worst air disaster in Australia's history” at the time, it is still listed in the top ten worst aviation accidents.
Among the casualties was eighteen-year-old Corporal Ruth Ada Hills. Listing her birthplace as Berry, where her mother’s people had farmed for many years and her uncles WW1 service and sacrifice is honoured, Ruth’s death was largely felt throughout the Shoalhaven community.
With the consent of her father, Ruth enlisted in the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) in October 1941. She was reportedly “one of the youngest girls to join the W.A.A.F.” having advanced her age by a year. A stenographer in civilian life, she was deemed “suitable as a Teleprinter Operator.” Twelve months later, Ruth posted into the Brisbane Wireless Telegraphy Station and was promoted to Corporal. She was “…described by the officer in charge of the W.T. station as one of her best N.C.O.’s”.
In the weeks leading up to the fateful morning, Ruth had accepted a marriage proposal and suffered a relapse of dengue fever. Released from hospital the day before the crash, Ruth was granted sick leave and intended returning home to Petersham in Sydney to surprise her family and announce her engagement.
Sadly, the first indication her parents had of her visit “…was a telegram saying she had been killed.” They immediately travelled by train to Brisbane for the funeral and Ruth’s “…intended fiancé, Sergeant-Pilot Warwick Addison, of Queensland, flew from his New South Wales base to Brisbane when he learned of the tragedy.”
On Monday the 29th March 1943, “An hour after the 9th Division had marched along Adelaide Street to the accompaniment of cheers…crowds watched other members of a Service go by there—but this time in silence. It was the funeral cortege of 20 of the victims of the R.A.A.F. transport aircraft crash, among whom were three members of the W.A.A.F.”
“W.A.A.F. colleagues of the girls formed a guard of honor, and members of the R.A.A.F. were bearers. The coffins were placed on four R.A.A.F. vehicles and covered with the Union Jack and the Australian Flag. A service at Lutwyche Cemetery was conducted by three Air Force padres…” and “W.A.A.F.'s placed wreaths on the 20 graves. Relatives of seven of the crash victims attended the funeral.”
K. Standen 2022
Sources: NAA: A9301, 92533 ; The Daily Telegraph 30 Mar 1943 ; Sydney Morning Herald 30 Mar 1943 : The Courier-Mail 29 and 30 Mar 1943.