LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Walter Paul GREATZ
Service No: 19707
Born: Mildura VIC, 7 August 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 November 1940
Unit: No. 10 Squadron, RAF Mount Batten, Plymouth
Died: Air Operations: (No. 10 Squadron Sunderland aircraft W3985), North Atlantic, 18 August 1943, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Paul Emil and Hedwig Louisa Greatz, of Mildura, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Mildura VIC
Remembered: Panel 195, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 99, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Rathmines Memorial Bowling Club, Rathmines NSW
On the 18th August 1943, Sunderland W3985 took off at 1026 hours authorised to carry out an anti submarine patrol. At 1850 hours an enemy aircraft attacking signal was immediately followed by an SOS were received by RAF Station St Eval. An approximate bearing of 222 degrees was taken. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft which failed to return to base.
The crew members of W3985 were:
Sergeant Alfred Ramsey Aldridge (5226) (Fitter 11A)
Flight Sergeant Hugh Edward Burbidge (414990) (Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Victor Denis William Collins (409027) (Second Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Donald Stanyon Croxford (655726) (RAFVR) (Supernumerary)
Flight Sergeant Ronald Arthur Gibbs (402704) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Walter Paul Greatz (19707) (Fitter 2B)
Pilot Officer William Noel Hill (401820) (Navigator)
Flight Sergeant Kenneth Morwick Meldrum (404754) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Norman Henry Orford (51797) (Armourer)
Flight Lieutenant Hickson William Skinner (407977) (Pilot)
Sergeant Walter Slater (19194) (Flight Engineer)
Flying Officer Ronald Ross Swinson (414966) (Third Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/16/154
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line
Bibliography:
Ashworth, N. (Norman) The ANZAC Squadron: A history of No. 461 Squadron RAAF 1942-5, Hesperian Press Victoria Park WA 6100, 1994
Baff, K.C (Kevin), Maritime is Number Ten, K.C. Baff Netley SA, 1983
Joubert, P.B. (Sir Phillip Bennet) Birds and Fishes: the story of Coastal Command, Hutchinson and Company London, 1960
Southall, I.F. (Ivan Francis) (418900) They Shall Not Pass Unseen, Angus and Robertson Sydney NSW, 1956
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992