View source for John Francis George Collins

{{infobox soldier ww2
| image           =[[File:Collins_John_Francis_George.jpg|300px]]
| caption         =
| image2          =
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| dateofbirth	  = 17 Apr 1920
| placeofbirth	  = Kelmscott, Western Australia
| death	          = 23 Aug 2001, aged 81
| placeofdeath	  = Rockingham, Western Australia
| enlistmentage	  = 21 years, 9 months
| description	  = 5'9½" (1.76m) tall; weight 140lbs; fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, right forefinger missing a joint.
| height          = 5'9½" (1.76m)
| weight          = 140lbs
| complexion      = fair
| eyes            = blue
| hair            = brown
| descriptionnote = right forefinger missing a joint
| occupation	  = Orchardist
| religion	  = Church of England
| address	  = River road, Kelmscott
| relation	  = Mother
| nextofkin       = Mrs May Collins
| regnumber	  = [https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4572247  46364]
| enlistmentdate  = 29 Jan 1942
| rank	          = Leading Aircraftsman
| unit     	  = [[No. 30 (City of Sale) Squadron RAAF]]
| 1stembarkationdatefrom= 14 Sep 1942
| 1stembarkationdateto= 30 Jun 1943
| 1sttransportembarked= aircraft
| 1sttransportnote= Townsville to Ward's Strip Port Moresby

| 1stembarkationdatefrom1tran= 1 Jul 1943
| 1stembarkationdateto1tran= 30 Nov 1943
| 1sttransportembarked1tran= unknown
| 1sttransportnote1tran= Port Moresby to Goodenough Island

| 1stembarkationdatefrom2tran= 1 Dec 1943
| 1stembarkationdateto2tran= 19 Dec 1943
| 1sttransportembarked2tran= unknown
| 1sttransportnote2tran=Goodenough Island to Kiriwina Airfield, on the largest of the Trobriand Islands

| 1stdateofreturnfrom= 20 Dec 1943
| 1stdateofreturnto= 28 Dec 1943
| 1sttransportreturn= plane
| 1sttransportreturnnote=Kiriwina Airfield to Perth

| fate1	          = Returned to Australia - medical?
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| medal1	  = 1939-45 Star
| medal2          = Pacific Star
| medal3          = War Medal 1939-45
| medal4          = Australian Service Medal 1939-45
}}


==Pre War==
After leaving school after the 7th Standard, he spent three years living with his uncle Mr W.L. Ullyott who was the Postmaster at Bendering. There he gained experience working a telephone exchange.

==War Service==
Prior to joining the RAAF, John says that he had served for 18 months in the CMF Western Command Signals. No records or index entry are yet listed by Australian Archives on their web site.


On 29 Jan 1942 John marched into the No. 4 Recruiting Centre Perth where he undertook a Basic Drill course before being posted on 3 Mar 1942 to [[No. 4 School of Technical Training RAAF]]. Successfully concluded training there and was posted on 26 Apr 1942 to [[No. 1 Engineering School RAAF]] at Ascot Vale in Victoria where on 28 Jun 1942 he qualified as a Flight Rigger. As a result he was posted to [[No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF]] in Narromine, New South Wales on 30 Jun 1942.


John was then posted to [[No. 30 (City of Sale) Squadron RAAF]] based at Richmond in New South Wales on 10 Aug 1942. The squadron was equipped with [[Bristol Beaufighter]]s. A week after he arrived they moved to the Bohle River airstrip north of Townsville in Queensland.  On 14 Sep 1942 the squadron moved to Ward's strip at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. on 1 July 1943 the squadron repositioned to Goodenough Island off the PNG south east coast, and then on 1 Dec 1943 to Kiriwina Airfield, on the largest of the Trobriand Islands north of Goodenough Island. On 20 Dec 1943 John was posted to [[No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF]] in Perth. His medical records are not available, but given his history it would appear that his return home was driven by health reasons. 


On 28 Jan 1944 John was sent to the [[No. 4 Convalescent Depot RAAF]] where he remained until he was posted to [[No. 14 Squadron RAAF]] at Pearce on 29 May 1944. He married Isobel Padbury Hardwick in Perth on 18 Mar 1944. He was again sent to [[No. 1 Engineering School RAAF]] at Ascot Vale from 4 Sep to 12 Dec 1944 to upgrade his skills after which he was sent to RAAF South East Sale on 31 Jan 1945.


On 4 Mar 1946 he was posted to [[No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF]] in Perth and discharged a week later on 11 Mar 1946
==Post War==
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 at River road, Kelmscott, Storekeeper; 1954 at Third road Armadale, bus driver; 1958 - 1972 at Stepeny road, Armadale, bus driver; 1977 at 83 Allnut street, Mandurah, caretaker; 1980 at Lot 129 Walter road, North Yunderup.
===Notes===
John's RAAF records mentions a son John Gerald Collins. It also records that he played the Saxaphone.
<references />

===External Links===

{{DEFAULTSORT:Collins , John Francis George}}

[[Category:RAAF ww2]]
[[Category:Born Australia ww2]]
[[Category:Born WA ww2]]
[[Category:Orchardist ww2]]
[[Category:Church of England ww2]]
[[Category:Returned to Australia]]
[[Category:Armadale-Kelmscott ww2]]