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On 24 Jun 1942 Avon was promoted to Leading Aircraftsman and then on 6 Aug 1942 he re-mustered as a Driver Motor Transport. On 3 Oct 1942 he was posted to  No. 4 Embarkation Depot Adelaide. His next posting was to No. 55 Operational Base Unit at Birdum in the Northern Territory on 21 Oct 1942. Birdum is almost 500 km south of Darwin. Four days later on 25 Oct 1942 he was posted to No. 76 Squadron at Strauss, still in the Northern Territory. The Squadron embarked in Darwin on 29 Jan 1943, and disembarked in Onslow 4 Feb 1943. It moved to Bankstown NSW on 11 May 1943 once the threat of invasion of WA receded. Sent back to No.2 Bombing and Air Gunnery School, in Port Pirie on 26 May 1943 before being posted to No. 21 Squadron at Gawler, South Australia on 13 Sep 1943. The squadron was being reformed having suffered heavy losses in Singapore, and was being re-equipped with [[Vultee Vengeance]] dive-bombers. It moved to Lowood in the hills west of Brisbane on 1 Dec 1943 to undertake advanced training before returning to action.
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On 24 Jun 1942 Avon was promoted to Leading Aircraftsman and then on 6 Aug 1942 he re-mustered as a Driver Motor Transport. On 3 Oct 1942 he was posted to  No. 4 Embarkation Depot Adelaide. His next posting was to No. 55 Operational Base Unit at Birdum in the Northern Territory on 21 Oct 1942. Birdum is almost 500 km south of Darwin. Four days later on 25 Oct 1942 he was posted to [[No. 76 Squadron RAAF]] at Strauss, still in the Northern Territory. The Squadron embarked in Darwin on 29 Jan 1943, and disembarked in Onslow 4 Feb 1943. It moved to Bankstown NSW on 11 May 1943 once the threat of invasion of WA receded. Sent back to No.2 Bombing and Air Gunnery School, in Port Pirie on 26 May 1943 before being posted to [[No. 21 Squadron RAAF]] at Gawler, South Australia on 13 Sep 1943. The squadron was being reformed having suffered heavy losses in Singapore, and was being re-equipped with [[Vultee Vengeance]] dive-bombers. It moved to Lowood in the hills west of Brisbane on 1 Dec 1943 to undertake advanced training before returning to action.
 
 
 
 
  
 
The Squadron embarked in Brisbane on 19 Jan 1944, and disembarked in Lae, Papua New Guinea on 3 Feb 1944. It moved to the Nadzab airstrip the same day and soon after was in action. Unfortunately the plane's short flying range made it unsuitable for operations in New Guinea, and on 10 Apr 1944 the squadron was again on the move, this time to Camden in New South Wales on 27 Jun 1944, before they moved on 20 Jul 1944 to Leyburn, in Queensland where the squadron converted to [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]] heavy bombers. Avon was promoted Corporal on 1 Aug 1944. Conversion took six months, and once complete, the squadron moved  again on 28 Dec 1944, this time to Fenton in the Northern Territory. Although Avon was hospitalised with 1 Medical Receiving Station from 11 Jan to 2 Feb 1945 his records don't give a cause.
 
The Squadron embarked in Brisbane on 19 Jan 1944, and disembarked in Lae, Papua New Guinea on 3 Feb 1944. It moved to the Nadzab airstrip the same day and soon after was in action. Unfortunately the plane's short flying range made it unsuitable for operations in New Guinea, and on 10 Apr 1944 the squadron was again on the move, this time to Camden in New South Wales on 27 Jun 1944, before they moved on 20 Jul 1944 to Leyburn, in Queensland where the squadron converted to [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]] heavy bombers. Avon was promoted Corporal on 1 Aug 1944. Conversion took six months, and once complete, the squadron moved  again on 28 Dec 1944, this time to Fenton in the Northern Territory. Although Avon was hospitalised with 1 Medical Receiving Station from 11 Jan to 2 Feb 1945 his records don't give a cause.

Revision as of 22:24, 27 May 2020

Avon William Mills
Unknown.png
Personal Information
Date of Birth 24 Jun 1909
Place of Birth Armadale, Western Australia
Death 28 Apr 1998
Place of Death Quairading, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment 32 years, 5 months
Description 5'6" (1.68m) tall ; 134lbs
60.781 kg
; medium complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair ; appendix scar
Occupation Share farmer
Religion Methodist
Address 'Morockdong', Dangin, Western Australia
Next of Kin Wife , Mrs Nellie May Wills
Military Information
Reg Number 46140
Date of Enlistment 17 Dec 1941
Rank Corporal
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates 19 Jan 1944 ‒ 3 Feb 1944
Transport Details unknown Brisbane to Lae Papua New Guinea
Journey Dates ‒ 13 Mar 1944
Transport Details unknown Lae, Papua New Guinea to Sydney
Post War Details
Fate Returned to Australia
Medals Pacific Star
Defence Medal
War Medal 1939-45
Australian Service Medal 1939-45



Pre War

Married Nellie May Neaves (1914 - 2013) in Perth on 19 Jun 1937. Daughters Marion Joy, born on 9 Mar 1939 and Florence Anne, born on 6 Aug 1941. Thomas Avon and Dorothy followed.

Electoral Roll entries: 1934 - 1943 Aldersyde, farmer.

War Service

Avon enlisted in the Air Force reserve at No. 4 Recruitment Centre in Perth and was sent to No. 4 Recruit Depot, at Pearce 17 Dec 1941 as Aircraftsman level 1, mustered as a Aircrafthand. There he completed a basic Drill course before being posted to the No. 2 Bombing & Air Gunnery School, in Port Pirie, South Australia on 19 Jan 1942. While there he was charged on 2 Feb 1942 with having been AWOL from 7:15 am until 1:00pm that day. He was awarded 3 days Confined to Barracks. He also was for a time detached to No.1 Mobile Works Squadron at Ascot Vale in Victoria (6 - 13 Jun 1942).


On 24 Jun 1942 Avon was promoted to Leading Aircraftsman and then on 6 Aug 1942 he re-mustered as a Driver Motor Transport. On 3 Oct 1942 he was posted to No. 4 Embarkation Depot Adelaide. His next posting was to No. 55 Operational Base Unit at Birdum in the Northern Territory on 21 Oct 1942. Birdum is almost 500 km south of Darwin. Four days later on 25 Oct 1942 he was posted to No. 76 Squadron RAAF at Strauss, still in the Northern Territory. The Squadron embarked in Darwin on 29 Jan 1943, and disembarked in Onslow 4 Feb 1943. It moved to Bankstown NSW on 11 May 1943 once the threat of invasion of WA receded. Sent back to No.2 Bombing and Air Gunnery School, in Port Pirie on 26 May 1943 before being posted to No. 21 Squadron RAAF at Gawler, South Australia on 13 Sep 1943. The squadron was being reformed having suffered heavy losses in Singapore, and was being re-equipped with Vultee Vengeance dive-bombers. It moved to Lowood in the hills west of Brisbane on 1 Dec 1943 to undertake advanced training before returning to action.

The Squadron embarked in Brisbane on 19 Jan 1944, and disembarked in Lae, Papua New Guinea on 3 Feb 1944. It moved to the Nadzab airstrip the same day and soon after was in action. Unfortunately the plane's short flying range made it unsuitable for operations in New Guinea, and on 10 Apr 1944 the squadron was again on the move, this time to Camden in New South Wales on 27 Jun 1944, before they moved on 20 Jul 1944 to Leyburn, in Queensland where the squadron converted to Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers. Avon was promoted Corporal on 1 Aug 1944. Conversion took six months, and once complete, the squadron moved again on 28 Dec 1944, this time to Fenton in the Northern Territory. Although Avon was hospitalised with 1 Medical Receiving Station from 11 Jan to 2 Feb 1945 his records don't give a cause.


On 7 Jun 1945 he was posted to the No. 4 Repair and Salvage Unit at Darwin. Avon applied for and was granted Special LWOP from 22 May until 3 Sep 1945 to allow him to work on the wheat and sheep farm at Dangin that he jointly farmed with his brother. His records were held by the No. 4 Repair and Salvage Unit at Darwin. Then on 3 Sep 1945 he was posted to the No. 2 Reserve Personnel Pool. The next day he was re-allocated to the No. 5 Personnel Depot in Perth for discharge which occurred on 19 Oct 1945.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1958 at Aldersyde, farmer; 1963 - 1972 at Dangin, South of Boundary, farmer; 1977 - 1980 at 51 Jennaberring road, Quairading, farmer

Notes


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