Alexander Cumming
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 22 Dec 1922 |
| Place of Birth | Perth, Western Australia |
| Description | 5'8½" (1.74m) tall ; ; fresh complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair |
| Occupation | Farm hand |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Address | Byford |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr. Donald Cumming |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 45780 |
| Rank | Flight Sergeant |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star Burma Clasp War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 Phillipines Liberation Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Alex enlisted in the RAAF at the No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre on 8 Oct 1941, mustered as a Trainee Group V. He was sent the same day to the No. 4 Recruit Depot RAAF at Pearce to undertake an initial drill course. During January 1942 Alex completed No. 120 Trainee Fitters course at [[No. 3 School of Technical Training RAAF], and on 11 Apr 1942 he was remustered as a Flight Mechanic having completed the No. 141 Trainee Flight Mechanics Course. On 15 Apr 1942 Alex was transferred to No. 1 Service Flying Training School RAAF. Shortly after, on 8 May 1942 he was posted to No. 5 Squadron RAAF which soon after relocated to Rockhamton in Queensland.
From 21 Aug to 2 Sep 1942 Alex was detached to the US 41st Division at Rockhampton. He was promoted Leading Aircraftman on 1 Sep 1942, and remained with No. 5 Squadron until 16 Feb 1943 when he transferred to No. 1 Engineering School RAAF to undertake No. 40 Fitter II E Conversion course, resulting in him being remstered on 12 May 1943 as a Fitter II E. On 19 May 1943 Alex was posted to No. 7 Service Flying Training Shool RAAF. Three months later on 24 Aug 1943 his posting changed to the No. 6 Service Flying Training School RAAF. His next posting was to the No. 1 Air Gunnery School RAAF on 10 May 1944, where from 14 May until 9 Jun 1944 he attended their No. 188 Technical Air Gunner's Course. Shortly after, on 15 June he was posted to No. 3 Operational Training Unit RAAF.
At 3 OTU Alex was promoted to Temporary Sergeant on 22 Sep 1944 on the completion of No. 25 Catalina Conversion course, and soon after from 14 - 30 October he was detached to No. 4 Personnel Depot RAAF. From 7 Nov 1944 to 13 Mar 1945 Alex was a member of No. 43 Squadron RAAF, operating from Karumba on the southern coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria. On 14 Mar 1945 he transferred to 112 Air Sea Rescue Flight RAAF where on 22 Mar 1945 he was promoted Temporay Flight Sergeant. Apart from a period between 25 May 1945 and 23 Jun 1945 when he was based at Bowen on fery duty, he remained with them until he was posted to No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF on 8 Aug 1945. On 9 Oct 1945 Alex was posted to No. 4 Central Recovery Depot RAAF, but on 9 Jan 1946 he was back at No. 5 Personel Depot RAAF, this time to be discharged which took place on 21 Jan 1946.
Post War
Notes
Military records have added an 's' to his surname.
External Links
[[Category:]][[Category:]] [[Category:]] [[Category:]]