The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (408204) Leading Aircraftman Russell Edward Johnston, 1 Service Flying Training School, Second World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (408204) Leading Aircraftman Russell Edward Johnston, 1 Service Flying Training School, Second World War.

Leading Aircraftman Russell Edward Johnston, 1 Service Flying Training School
Accidentally killed 12 April 1942
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 14 July 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Leading Aircraftman Russell Edward Johnston.

Russell Johnston was born on 13 December 1910 to Thomas and Ruby Johnston of Melbourne. He attended the Gold Street State School in Clifton Hill and then went on to the Collingwood Technical School in Melbourne. He was well known as a football player, being a member of the Northcote Football Club. Johnston excelled in mathematics and engineering subjects, and became an electrical engineer. In December 1937 he married his wife, Jean; their only daughter, Helen, was born 10 months later. Johnston undertook a Diploma of Electrical Technology while working for the Hydro Electric Commission but did not sit his final exam as he was transferred to Tasmania with his work.

In 1941 Johnston and his family were living in Hobart. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in August of that year and began his training in a number of different RAAF training schools around Australia. He passed all his courses, and was considered to have a very good character. In February 1942 he transferred to Point Cook near Melbourne to undertake service flying training.

On 12 April 1942 Johnston was one of a crew of three assigned to a training flight in Oxford Aircraft AT-439. He and the other trainee were to practice their navigation skills while the aircraft was piloted by a sergeant. Their route was to take them from Point Cook to Beech Forest, then to Curdie, before returning to Point Cook. The trainee navigators were given specific instructions not to fly through or over clouds, and to maintain a height of 1,500 feet above ground. However, on approaching Beech Forest the training aircraft encountered adverse weather. About three miles north-east of the town the Oxford crashed from a height of roughly 200 feet, killing all on board. It was later determined that mistakes by the pilot had led to the crash.

Russell Johnston never fought in the war, but he undertook more than a year of training in order to do so, and his death was considered attributable to his air service and his willingness to serve his country. He was cremated at the Springvale Crematorium at 11.30 am on 14 August, and was ever after held in “proud and loving memory” by his family. He was 31 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, along with around 40,000 others from the Second World War. There is no photograph in the Memorial’s collection to display beside the Pool of Reflection.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Leading Aircraftman Russell Edward Johnston, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.