LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer William Jeffrey METHERALL
Service No: 400151
Born: Willaura VIC, 4 June 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 23 June 1940
Unit: No. 450 Squadron
Died: Air Operations: (No. 450 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft AK604), Libya, 16 May 1942, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Richard Baker Metherall and Jane Allen Donaldson Metherall, of Inverloch, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Melbourne VIC
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 16 May 1942, Kittyhawk AK604 flown by Pilot Officer Metherall was one of a formation which engaged enemy aircraft while patrolling south east of Gazala. During the engagement, AK604 was seen to lose height rapidly and crash and burn, south of Acroma, Libya.
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 A705, 163/143/59