| Accession Number | P09758.002 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | North Africa, North Africa: Libya |
| Date made | 1942 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Informal portrait of 401206 Sergeant (Sgt) George Alban Downton in flying suit. Sgt Downton, a ...
Description
Informal portrait of 401206 Sergeant (Sgt) George Alban Downton in flying suit. Sgt Downton, a clerk from Brighton, Victoria, enlisted in 1940, aged 22. He trained under the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS), initially at No 1 Bombing and Gunnery School (1 BAGS) RAAF Base Evans Head, as a wireless operator and air gunner (WAG). He completed his training in Kenya before being posted to 1437 Strategic Reconnaissance Flight RAF, part of the 285 Reconnaissance Wing of the Western Desert Air Force in North Africa. On 21st April 1943 the Martin Baltimore light bomber, in which he was gunner, was attacked whilst on operations over the Italian held territory of Cape Bon, Tunisia, eventually crash-landing in flames. Despite being wounded, Sgt Downton managed to rescue one of his comrades before the flames became too intense. For his actions he was later awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM). Captured by the Italians he was taken Prisoner of War (POW). He returned to Australia as a Warrant Officer (WO) late in 1945 and found work with the Repatriation Department, repatriating war brides.