Hand coloured studio portrait of 405605 Pilot Officer (PO) Walter Henry Rose of Cloncurry, Qld. ...

Hand coloured studio portrait of 405605 Pilot Officer (PO) Walter Henry Rose of Cloncurry, Qld. An apprentice electrician before enlisting in the RAAF in April 1941, PO Rose trained as a pilot in Australia and Canada as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS). After being posted to 460 Squadron RAAF in March 1943, PO Rose flew Lancaster bombers, including G-George during an operational sortie over Duisburg on 27 April 1943. In May 1943, PO Rose was transferred to 156 Pathfinder Squadron RAF, and in October 1943, was recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his "high reputaion as an operational pilot which has since been enhanced by his skill and determination with which he has pressed home attacks on varied targets in Germany, Italy and occupied territory". PO Rose was killed during an operational sortie when his Lancaster, serial number JB223, radio call-sign GT-M (M-Mike) was shot down over Berlin on the night of 23/24 November 1943. Aged 22 at the time of his death, PO Rose has no known grave, however a watch worn by PO Rose was uncovered by a German farmer after the war and forwarded to his next of kin.