JOHNSTON, William Whitelaw
| Service Number: | 425322 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 February 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Leading Aircraftman |
| Last Unit: | No. 3 Wireless Air Gunnery School Maryborough |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 24 March 1917 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Brisbane Boy's College, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | N.A.R.M. Ltd. |
| Died: | Accidental (Flying Accident), North Sea, North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, 3 November 1943, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial, Runnymede Air Forces Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Flight Sergeant, 425322 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Feb 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 425322, No. 466 Squadron (RAAF), Brisbane, Qld. | |
| 1 Feb 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 425322 | |
| 1 Apr 1942: | Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, No. 3 Wireless Air Gunnery School Maryborough , Posted to No. 3 WAGS, Maryborough, Qld for Wireless Air Gunner training on Course 24. |
Help us honour William Whitelaw Johnston's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Allan and Jessie Johnston, of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Bill Johnston who is posted as missing, presumed dead, apparently lost his life in an operational flight over the North Sea on November 3rd last year. Bill joined the Brisbane Boy's College at Clayfield in 1930, transferring to Toowong in 1931 and remaining with us till the middle of 1933, when he went into business with his father Mr. A Johnston of N.A.R.M. Ltd. He maintained an active association with the College, visiting us before going overseas and writing to us twice from England in 1943. Transferring from the Light Horse to the R.A.A.F. in 1940, he trained in Australia and on reaching England joined a Lancaster squadron as an air gunner, and was later flying in Halifaxes. Writing from London shortly beofre his last fatal trip, he mentioned that he had completed thirteen operational flights. To him the College and its associations meant much, and we mourn his passing and extend our deepest sympathy to his father and his younger brother, J.E. Johnston (1934-37) in their great loss.
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