WILLIAM ALBERT MCALLEN
407294 - Sgt Willaim Albert McAllen.
Lost doing a bombing run over Germany, he was a gunner.
Official military records have him killed in action 15th November 1941 at age 30.
A photo of him as a young boy
He was born in SEMAPHORE, SA - 14 Jul 1911
A chance to sign up and fight for his country
He was officially enlisted in Adelaide on the 17 Aug 1940
A Photo of training aircraft
A message home
The final mission
He was shot down in a mission to bomb Germany, the plane didn't return.
The aircraft type was a: Vickers Wellington Mk.IC
The bad news
An update
The official Cause of Death is: Flying Battle
A quest for something to remember him by
William Albert McAllen's name is located at panel 126 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial.
Operated by 99 Squadron RAF coded 'BH-R'. Airborne 17:20 15 Nov 41 on mission to raid Emden. Lost without trace over the North Sea. All six crew posted as KAS - Killed on Active Service
Crew:
F/Sgt (402891) Thomas Crawford Bentley Patterson RNZAF killed.
Sgt (1108004) Dennis Edward Hall RAFVR killed.
Sgt (921516) Leonard Ronald Townsend RAFVR killed.
Sgt (968394) Ronald Llewellyn Cooke RAFVR killed.
Sgt (R/68108) Bernard John Dermody RCAF killed.
Sgt (407294) William Albert McAllen RAAF killed.
He was my wife's Great uncle and left no children.
Great post @lordnigel, was he a relative of yours? Those pictures and letters are so touching. The pink telegram must have been so heart stopping to recieve.
Couldnt believe how objective and unsincere it was either. Unfortunately i suppose the army was writing hundreads ler day and didnt have it in him to give more.
He was my wife's Grand fathers brother.
Yeah seems cold, I believe it might have costs per word with those old telegrams, and not easy to write heaps - very different times.
Wow thanks for sharing this story and pictures.. He will be remembered.
I agree with Raven, those telegrams were awful. Thanks for inking him to the block though. These are good to read. Even more meaningful for you, I see.
So gutting for the family to have received one of 'those' telegrams. :(
They were quick to send them out, I guess they had so many to deliver...very painful.