| Place | Asia: Timor |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | P11152.013 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
RAAF Photographer |
| Place made | Australia |
| Date made | May 1940 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Portrait of 404761 Sergeant (Sgt) William Douglas Witham, 2 Squadron RAAF. Sgt Witham, a motor ...
Description
Portrait of 404761 Sergeant (Sgt) William Douglas Witham, 2 Squadron RAAF. Sgt Witham, a motor mechanic from Brisbane, Queensland, enlisted in May 1940. He was shot down over Timor on April 13 1942, captured by the Japanese and died on 8 May 1942. One of a series of images used by Allied prosecutors during the war crimes trials of Japanese charged with the murder of Australian pilots. The prints were produced in some numbers and used by investigative units in in South East Asia trying to locate the graves of missing RAAF pilots and aircrew. Initially showed to local natives and to Japanese prisoners of war, some were later produced in court as evidence during the trials of Japanese POW charged with the men's murder.