LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant William James HAMILTON
Service No: 418836
Born: Carlton, 28 May 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 19 June 1942
Unit: No. 1 Squadron, Gould NT
Died: Air Operations: (No. 1 Squadron Beaufort aircraft A9-509), Timor, 9 May 1944, Aged 29 Years
Buried: Ambon War Cemetery, Indonesia
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Francis and Beatrice Hamilton; husband of Ellen Jean Hamilton, of East St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Caulfield VIC
Remembered: Panel 97, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 8th May No. 1 Squadron was ordered to attack the Japanese army barracks in Penfui. Six Beauforts took off on the mission but only three found their target and attacked. While over the target, anti-aircraft fire from the ground was bursting close to the Beauforts. Two machines,
piloted by Squadron Leader Roxburgh (A9-541) and Flight Sergeant Wallace (A9-509), were evidently hit by this fire; both failed to return.
Extract from Odgers, G.J. (George James) (VX127783) Air War Against Japan 1943-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1957 – Page 228
The crew members of A9-509 were:
Flight Sergeant William James Hamilton (418836) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Warrant Officer Felix Edward Keon (410242) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant William David Sandwell (415685) (Observer)
Flight Sergeant Terence Wallace (415703) (Pilot) PoW, Died 10 May 1944
No. 1 Squadron lost Beaufort A9-541 (Squadron Leader Gilbert Bryce Dart Roxburgh (260656) (Pilot)) on 9 May 1944.
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, 257
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1990