Accession Number | AWM2020.626.3.1 |
---|---|
Collection type | Photograph |
Object type | |
Place made | Australia: Western Australia, Perth |
Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Collection relating to 415222 Ralph Trenham Bilsby RAAF
Description
Studio portrait of 415222 Ralph Trenham Bilsby RAAF during his period of training before posting overseas. Bilsby, of Collie, WA, and a garage mechanic and coal miner before his enlistment in August 1941, he trained as a pilot as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme, and was posted to No. 142 Squadron RAF flying Wellington bombers in Tunisia. He was with the squadron for less than a month before he was killed during an operational sortie over Italy on 22 July 1943, aged 21.