How many Australians joined and died in the RAF WW2?

[spidge]

As you are aware, I have catalogued the 10,836 RAAF deaths that occurred during the period 1939-1945 and intend to collect a photo of each persons Headstone or Memorial.

What I need to know, is how I can ascertain those Australians who joined the RAF and were killed during that period.

Australians in the battle of Britain of Britain for instance were with the RAF and their deaths are not recorded under Australians in the CWGC register.

Any ideas or leads would be appreciated.

Pat Hughes the leading Australian Ace in the BoB with 14 kills is not on the CWGC for Australians as he had joined the RAF.

From diggerhistory: Aussies in the Battle of Britain; 'The Few'

At the outbreak of the Second World War 450 Australians were serving in he RAF either as aircrew or as ground staff. There were as many Australians on active service with the RAF as there were with the RAAF. The first Australian to take part in a World War 2 air battle was a young Tasmanian, Flight-Lieutenant J. Brough of 99 Squadron, who flew in a raid of Wellington and Halifax bombers on 4 September 1939 to attack the German navy in it's home ports.

The Supermarine Spitfire, one of the saviours of the RAF

In May 1940 Germany invaded Norway, Denmark, Holland and Belgium before striking at France. The RAF was allotted the twin tasks of defending allied communications and slowing up the German advance. Its European‑based units fought desperately to win control of the air. Among the 40 Australians who took part in this fighting was the nation's first ace of World War 11, Flying Officer Leslie Clisby of Walkerville, South Australia. Clisby joined in the battle n 1 May and within five days had shot down eight enemy aircraft. On 15 May he was shot down in flames and killed.

Ten Australian RAF fighter pilots were killed in the Battle of Europe. The 30 who survived took an active part in the Battle of Britain during the spring of 1940. The Luftwaffe mustered some 3,000 fighters and bombers to defeat the RAF. The fighting was constant and the odds enormous.
On 15 August alone the Germans lost 76 planes. The Australians were right in the thick of the action. Flight Lieutenant Sheen from Canberra later recalled: 'Lots of aircraft were blowing up and people bailing out all over the sky and bombs dropping into the sea'. Lieutenant Sheen shot down two enemy planes that day. Such gallantry came at a price:
10 Australian fighter pilots were killed during the Battle of Britain, while five more died in British bombing raids against German landing barges in continental ports.

[Kyt]

These are all the Australians who are recognised as such, whether RAAF or RAF, who took part in the BoB (not including Bomber or Coastal Command)

Bennett Pilot Officer C C Australian 248 Killed*
Bungey Flying Officer R W Australian 145
Cale Pilot Officer F W Australian 266 Killed*
Cock Pilot Officer J R Australian 87
Constantine Pilot Officer A N Australian 141 Killed
Crossman Pilot Officer J D Australian 46 Killed*
Flood Flight Lieutenant F W Australian 235 Killed*
Glyde Flying Officer R L Australian 87 Killed*
Hamilton Pilot Officer A L Australian 248
Holland Sergeant K C Australian 152 Killed*
Hughes Flight Lieutenant P C Australian 234 Killed*
Kennedy Flight Lieutenant J C Australian 238 Killed*
McDonough Pilot Officer B M Australian 236 Killed*
Miller Pilot Officer R F G Australian 609 Killed*
Millington Pilot Officer W H Australian 79-249 Killed*
Olive Flight Lieutenant C G C Australian 65
Power Flight Lieutenant R M Australian 236
Reynell Flight Lieutenant R C Australian 43 Killed*
Sheen Flying Officer D F B Australian 72
Walch Flight Lieutenant S C Australian 238 Killed*
Withall Flight Lieutenant L C Australian 152 Killed*

* killed in the BOb
without * killed during the war

[Kyt]

There is a strange anomoly in the way that the CWGC works. The problem is that being Australian, even whilst serving with the RAF, may or maynot, be down as Australian.

As an example of what I mean, all Indians on the CWGC are down as Royal Indian Air Force, even though there are several that I know of who actually joined and died in the RAF.

For the Australians in the BoB there is a book that details all the Australians, RAAF and RAF, who took part:

Amazon.co.uk: A Few of the Few: Australians in the Battle of Britain: Books: Dennis Newton

[spidge]

Originally Posted by Kyt

These are all the Australians who are recognised as such, whether RAAF or RAF, who took part in the BoB (not including Bomber or Coastal Command)

Bennett Pilot Officer C C Australian 248 Killed*
Bungey Flying Officer R W Australian 145
Cale Pilot Officer F W Australian 266 Killed*
Cock Pilot Officer J R Australian 87
Constantine Pilot Officer A N Australian 141 Killed
Crossman Pilot Officer J D Australian 46 Killed*
Flood Flight Lieutenant F W Australian 235 Killed*
Glyde Flying Officer R L Australian 87 Killed*
Hamilton Pilot Officer A L Australian 248
Holland Sergeant K C Australian 152 Killed*
Hughes Flight Lieutenant P C Australian 234 Killed*
Kennedy Flight Lieutenant J C Australian 238 Killed*
McDonough Pilot Officer B M Australian 236 Killed*
Miller Pilot Officer R F G Australian 609 Killed*
Millington Pilot Officer W H Australian 79-249 Killed*
Olive Flight Lieutenant C G C Australian 65
Power Flight Lieutenant R M Australian 236
Reynell Flight Lieutenant R C Australian 43 Killed*
Sheen Flying Officer D F B Australian 72
Walch Flight Lieutenant S C Australian 238 Killed*
Withall Flight Lieutenant L C Australian 152 Killed*

* killed in the BOb
without * killed during the war

Hi Kyt,

Was this extracted from CWGC?

The second name (Bungey) is on my list however only one of the first six is!

[Kyt]

oops, sorry Spidge, I forgot the url:

The Battle of Britain - Home Page