LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Arnold Bruce GILLAM
Service No: 408399
Born: Launceston TAS, 21 December 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 23 April 1942
Unit: No. 9 Communication Unit, Lae
Died: Air Operations (No. 9 Communication Unit Avro Anson aircraft AW659), near Garua, New Guinea, 12 March 1944, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Joseph and Alice May Gillam, of Whitmore, Tasmania
Roll of Honour: Whitemore TAS
Remembered: Panel 111, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Rathmines Memorial Bowling Club, Rathmines NSW
Due to engine failure, Anson AW659 made a forced landing in heavily timbered country about 25 kms south west of Gariana at 1120 hours on 12 March 1944. On board the aircraft were:
Private C A Baur (38034100) (US Army) Killed
Flight Sergeant Arnold Bruce Gillam (408399) (Second Pilot)
Sergeant B H Jones (36210043) (US Army) Injured
Warrant Officer David Ronald Restall Walter (417251) (Pilot) Injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 1 January 1945
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 59
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992