LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer William Robert HAYLES
Service No: 434223
Born: Townsville QLD, 2 June 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 5 November 1942
Discharged from the RAAF: 28 August 1945
Unit at Discharge: No. 24 Squadron
Died: Illness, Victoria, 6 June 1947, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Geelong Western Cemetery, Victoria, Australia
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John and Anna Hayles, husband of Bettina M. Hayles, of Burwood, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 102, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Flying Officer Hayles was a trainee pilot but his flying training was discontinued at No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School. He saw operational service at Darwin from 18 March 1944 to 20 December 1944. He was discharged from the RAAF medically unfit on 28 August 1945 and he died on 6 June 1947.
Flying Officer Hayles first enlisted in the AIF in Darwin in October 1939. He was a member of the 2/3rd Field Regiment, 6th Division until their return to Australia. He then transferred to the RAAF as aircrew.
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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9300, HAYLES W R