LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Alexander Harold WILL
Service No: 420093
Born: Waverley NSW, 20 July 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 10 October 1941
Unit: No. 227 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 227 Squadron Beaufighter aircraft JL708), off the Greek Coast, 26 January 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Phaleron War Cemetery, Athens, Greece
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Mathew Glory Will and Gladys M. Will; husband of Alice Will, of Southall, Middlesex, England
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 132, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: MacArthur Park Obelisk, Camden NSW
On 26 January 1944 Beaufighter JL708 was taking part in an attack on shipping on the Greek coast when it was seen to crash into the sea. It was believed that either the aircraft or the pilot was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Other aircraft on the mission circled the position but could only see small pieces of wreckage. The crew of two was missing.
The crew members of JL708 were:
Flying Officer Brian Findley (136376) (RAFVR) (Observer)
Flying Officer Alexander Harold Will (420093) (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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/43/505
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line