Billy Kendall Collins

Billy Kendall Collins

Billy 5th from left in centre row
Personal Information
Date of Birth	25 Apr 1920
Place of Birth	Fremantle, Western Australia
Death	11 Dec 2017, aged 85
Age at Enlistment	20 years, 10 months
Description	5'11½" (1.81m) tall ; 144lbs 65.317 kg ; fair complexion ; brown eyes ; dark brown hair
Occupation	Sales clerk
Religion	Methodist
Address	Perth, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs. Beatrice Collins
Military Information
Reg Number	406613
Date of Enlistment	3 Feb 1941
Rank	Warrant Officer
Unit/Formation	No. 1651 Conversion Unit RAF
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument(s)	Ballarat POW Memorial
External Monument(s)	The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Ballarat, Victoria
Medals	1939-45 Star Aircrew Europe Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45

Pre War

During 1941 Billy married Beatrice Jackson in Victoria. She was living in Donnybrook with Billy's mother in early 1945. Billy's father Dr Collins died in January 1944 while Billy was in captiity.

War Service

Having enlisted on 3 Feb 1941, Billy was mustered as Aircrew and was sent to No. 5 Initial Training School RAAF at Clontarf and was promoted Leading Aircraftman on 1 Mar 1941. A month later on 6 Mar 1941 he was transferred to No. 1 Wireless Air Gunners School RAAF at Ballarat, Victoria. Having sucessfully completed the course he was next transferred to No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School RAAF at Port Pirie in South Australia on 7 Aug 1941. Billy was promoted Sergeant on 17 Oct 1941 on completion of his training. He was sent back to Western Australia to No. 5 Embarkation Depot RAAF on 27 Oct 1941 to enjoy some leave prior to going overseas. On 10 Nov 1941 he was transferred to No. 2 Embarkation Depot RAAF in Sydney where on 13 November he embarked in Sydney for the UK.

Arriving in the UK on 26 Dec 1941 he was sent to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre RAF. Billy was held there until 20 Mar 1942 when he was transferred to No. 7 Air Gunnery School RAF. He was next posted to No. 12 Operational Training Unit RAF on 21 Apr 1942, and now almost ready for operations he was posted on 23 Jun 1942 to No. 1651 Conversion Unit RAF, which as well as transferring the crews skills to a new form of aircraft, also provided aircraft for raids on Germany. No. 1651 Conversion Unit RAF was based at RAF Waterbeach, about 9 kms north of Cambridge. They were training on aircraft known as the Short Stirling. During 1942 they also flew 49 operational sorties for RAF Bomber Command resulting in the loss of five aircraft, and damage to others including Billy's (R9302) during a raid on Dusseldorf.

Billy described the attack on his return to the UK:

Rear Gunner of a 1651 Conversion Unit Stirling Bomber on his third mission. "Running up to target - shot up by flak and aircraft out of control- ordered abandon aircraft and jumped through rear escape hatch.Five other members of crew, Navigator and Bonb Aimer jumped front hatch. Aircraft pulled out by Pilot and flown back to England. Baled out approx 1500. No fire and aircraft seemingly under control. Pilot, Mid Upper Gunner, Wireless Operator, and Engineer returned with the aircraft. Navigator and Bomb Aimer taken POW at same place as myself".

The RAAF first received notification that Billy was a POW on 27 Aug 1942. An Air Force casualty list published in the 'West Australia' on 23 Sep 1942 confirms an earlier entry that had listed Billy as Missing, believed Prisoner Of War. and his records then recorded that his posting on paper at least changed to the War Casualty Acounts Department. Billy was held at Stalag VIIIB 344 with POW number 25115. He was promoted Flight Sergeant on 1 May 1943 while a POW, and to Warrant Officer on 1 May 1944 still while a POW. Finally he was liberated on 9 Apr 1945.

On 13 Apr 1945 Billy arrived at No. 11 Personnel Despatch & Receiving Centre RAAF, Brighton and noted as suffering from the effects of malnutrition. The previous day he had been debriefed:

POW number was 25115 and he had been captured (uninjured) near Dusseldorf. Sgt King RAF and Sgt Fellows RAF had been captured with him. He had been housed at STALAG VIII B (344) for 2 years and 8 months. Billy described the accommodation as poor - overcrowded, wooden beds and poor lighting. In addition they received insufficient food, and were given no cooking facilities. Sanitary facilities were very bad, but clothing and recreational facilities were fair. While Red Cross parcels were received, mail was poor. His hands were chained for several months ?. When he experienced some eye trouble he was sent to Lamsdorf hospital but only poor quality German dressings were available.

He embarked in the UK for Australia on 30 May 1945, and disembarked in Sydney on 7 Jul 1945 when he was housed at No. 1 Personnel Depot RAAF at Ransford. Billy was transferred on 12 Dec 1945 to No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF for discharge which took place on 11 Jan 1946 with Billy receiving 97 days pay in lieu of leave entitlements.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 at 40 Comer street, South Perth, salesman; 1958 - 1980 at 89 St Kilda road, Belmont, sales representative;

Notes

Billy's brother Noel Thomas Collins also served in the RAAF, but in the Pacific. He was also a POW.

External Links

• Ballarat POW Memorial