Roy Joseph Austen-Smith

Roy Joseph Austen-Smith

Personal Information
Date of Birth	18 Apr 1916
Place of Birth	Kelmscott, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	24 years 10 months
Description	5'7" (1.70m) tall ; 138lbs 62.596 kg ; medium complexion ; green eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Timber machinist
Religion	Church of England
Address	Albany road, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother , Mrs Edith May Marion Smith
Military Information
Reg Number	406628
Date of Enlistment	3 Feb 1941
Rank	Flight Lieutenant
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	17 Nov 1941 ‒ 17 Feb 1942
Transfers
Journey Dates	28 Mar 1943 ‒ 29 Mar 1943
Transport Details	aircraft England to Middle East
Journey Dates	‒ 29 Oct 1945
Post War Details
Medals	1939-45 Star Aircrew Europe Star Africa Star and rosette Italy Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Had attended Perth Boys School from 1929 to 1931 followed by the Kalgoorlie School of Mines. He did not complete his final exans as he had joined the RAAF before they were held.

War Service

Was a member of the Militia, being discharged on 10 Apr 1940. On 3 Feb 1941 he enlisted in the RAAF, and was sent to No 5 Initial Training School at Pearce as an Aircraftsman Class 2. On 29 Mar 1941 he was promoted to Leading Aircraftman, and on 3 Apr 1941 he was posted to 9 Elementary Flying Training School at Cunderdin and then on 2 Jun 1941 to the No 4 Service Flying Training School in Geraldton as a participant in Course No 11. At the completion of the course flying DH82As and Ansons (19 Sep 1941) he was promoted Sergeant and sent to the No 5 Embarkation Depot in Perth on 29 Sep 1941. On 10 Nov 1941 he was at the No 2 Embarkation Depot at Bradfield Park in North Sydney.

On 17 Nov 1941 he embarked on a ship in Newcastle, NSW for England, arriving there and entering No. 3 P.R.C. on 17 Feb 1942. On 9 Mar 1942 he was sent to the 14 Advanced Flying Unit at Ossington, and following success there he was promoted Flight Sergeant on 19 Mar 1942. Hospitalised from 27 Mar 1942 until 31 Jul 1942, Roy's next posting was to 54 Operational Training Unit at Charter hall on 2 Aug 1942. Training completed on Blenheim's and Beaufighters, on 16 Sep 1942 he was posted to 488 RNZAF Squadron, and soon after his arrival he was promoted Warrant Officer (19 Sep 1942). The Squadron was based at RAF Church Fenton in Yorkshire and was equipped with Beaufighters used as "night fighters".

Roy's next posting was to 256 RAF Squadron on 5 Oct 1942 who operated night interception Defiant Mk IIs out of RAF Squires Gate in defence of Liverpool. He remained in this role until Jan 1943 when he transferred to 153 RAF Squadron. ('A' Flight of 256 Squadron had been used to form 153 Squadron on 23 Feb 1943). The Squadron had moved from RAF Squires Gate to RAF Ballyhalbert in Northern Ireland to complete their preparation for overseas service. Roy went with them to North Africa. where he was granted a Commission on 9 Jun 1943 (Pilot Officer) in North Africa while serving with 153 RAF Squadron, operating Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIFs as night fighters. In total he flew 55 sorties (160 hours) and shot down two enemy aircraft. Roy was sent on an Instructors Course in January 1944.

In Apr 1944 Roy was sent to the RAF School of Flying Control, and took the opportunity on 29 Apr 1944 to marry Dorothy Diana Mary Bendle in Torquay, Devon. On the completion of his course he was then posted to Thorley Island as a Flying Control Officer before transferring to RAF Lyneham in August 1944 where his posting was HQ 116 Wing. Roy acted as Flight Lieutenant from 1 Jan 1945 until 10 Aug 1945, some of it on attachments at 11 Personnel Depot & Receiving Centre - 15 May to 31 May 1944; at Eastchurch from 1 - 3 Jun 1944; and Thorny Island from 12 Jun to 8 Jul 1944. Between 27 and 31 Mar 1945 he attended a Bomber Command Landing Procedure Course at No 32 Base Mildenhall

Roy arrived back in Australia on 6 Nov 1945 and was granted leave until 6 Dec 1945. Roy's appointment was terminated on 6 Feb 1946 at 5 Personnel Depot. He had received a Certificate from the RAF School of Flying Control at Watchfield, and had completed 5 years practical experience in Flying Control (Air Force and Civilian).

Post War

In July 1946 Roy joined the Commonwealth Public Service's department of Civil Aviation at Guildford in Western Australia as an Aerodrome Control Officer. In May 1947 he transferred to Lae in new Guinea where he was the Control Officer, and it was here in March 1949 that Roy altered his surname by deed poll to Austen-Smith. From March 1949 to June 1950 he was the Officer-In-Charge at Finschhafen. In July 1950 he was transferred to an Area Control Officer's position at Archerfield in Brisbane.

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