| Accession Number | P04831.008 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia |
| Date made | 1942 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Group portrait of seven RAAF aircrew, probably taken whilst the men were on pre-embarkation leave ...
Description
Group portrait of seven RAAF aircrew, probably taken whilst the men were on pre-embarkation leave in Tamworth. Back row, from left: Sergeant (Sgt) R Forbes; 413393 Sgt Reginald John King; Sgt D Fletcher; 420296 Sgt Clifford Hilston Stubbs. Front row, from left: 21165 Sgt Maxwell Keith Laybutt; 413446 Sgt William Barry Ryan; 420397 Sgt Max Oswald Murray. Sgt King, a school teacher from Tamworth enlisted at 20 years old and trained as a navigator in Australia. Promoted Warrant Officer (WO) and attached to 460 Sqn RAF, he was presumed killed on 15 March 1944 when his Lancaster bomber was lost without trace on a raid to Stuttgart. Sgt (later WO) Ryan enlisted on 17 August 1941 in Sydney, NSW aged 22. He trained as aircrew in Australia before being shipped to England. Attached to 104 Sqn RAF, he was killed when the Wellington bomber, in which he was rear gunner, ditched in rough seas following engine failure over the target of Leghorn, Italy on 17 April 1944.