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John Chadwick Meachem

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John Chadwick Meachem
Meachem John Chadwick.jpg
Personal Information
Date of Birth 5 Dec 1919
Place of Birth Perth, Western Australia
Occupation Forrester
Religion Church of England
Address Brookton road, Roleystone
Next of Kin Father , Mr Frank Meachem
Military Information
Reg Number 441288
Date of Enlistment 19 Jun 1943
Rank Flying Officer
Unit/Formation No. 30 Squadron RAAF
Post War Details
Fate Returned to Australia
Monument(s) Roleystone Roll of Honour
Medals 1939-45 Star
Pacific Star
War Medal 1939-45
Australian Service Medal 1939-45



Pre War

John was a Probationary Forrester at Hoffman's Mill.

War Service

John enlisted in the RAAF on 19 Jun 1943 at the No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre mustering as Aircrew trade group V. The same day he was posted to the No. 5 Initial Training School RAAF at Clontarf. This stage of training sucessfully completed, on 16 Sep 1943 John was posted to No. 1 Wireless Air Gunners School RAAF in Ballarat, Victoria for specialist training. On the completion of his course he was posted on 27 Dec 1943 to No. 2 Air Observers School RAAF at Mount Gambier to join the No 9 Navigator / Wireless Operator Course. On 10 May 1943 John's mustering was changed to Navigator/Wireless Operator group V, and then to Navigator/ Wireless Operator group II on 11 Sep 1943 when he was also appointed a Leading Aircraftsman.


John was discharged from the enlisted ranks of the RAAF on 28 Apr 1944 having been granted a Commission as a Pilot Officer. He was posted to No. 5 Operational Training Unit RAAF where he participated in the No 19 Beaufighter O/T Course, training with them until 17 Sep 1944 when he was posted to No. 1 Reserve Personnel Pool RAAF in Townsville .


Two days later he had joined No. 30 (City of Sale) Squadron RAAF at Noemfoor Island north of Dutch New Guinea, remaining with them for the duration of the war. The Squadron relocated to Morotai on 2 March 1945 from where on 3 May 1945 the Squadron's advance group boarded Manoora and Westralia for Tarakan, disembarking on 7 May 1945. The remainder of the Squadron and their equipment followed in a Landing Ship Tank (LST) convoy which arrived on 16 May 1945.


On 16 Jul 1945 John was posted to No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF to be processed for his discharge which took place on 19 Sep 1945.

Post War

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