Alan Wesley Hain

Alan Wesley Hain

Personal Information
Date of Birth	26 Nov 1916
Place of Birth	Katanning, Western Australia
Death	28 Sep 1943
Place of Death	India
Age at Enlistment	24 years, 5 months
Description	5'10" (1.78m) tall ; 148lbs 67.132 kg ; medium complexion ; green eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	School Teacher
Religion	Church of England
Military Information
Date of Enlistment	28 Apr 1941
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	9 Sep 1941 ‒ 25 Sep 1941
Transport Details	HMT Queen Elizabeth Fremantle to Port Tewfik
Transfers
Journey Dates	21 Oct 1941 ‒ 31 October
Transport Details	SS Mauretania Port Tewfik to Durban, South Africa
Post War Details
Fate	KIA 28 Sep 1943, India
External Monument(s)	Singapore Memorial, Singapore
Australian War Memorial	Australian War Memorial
Medals	1939-45 Star Africa Star Burma Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal

War Service

Alan enlisted at the No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre in Perth on 28 Apr 1941 as a member of the Empire Air training Scheme. He commenced his flying training with No. 5 Initial Training School at Pearce. on 21 Jun 1941 he was posted to the No. 5 Embarkation Depot. Alan was one of two trainee pilots to join HMT Queen Elizabeth in Gauge Roads off Fremantle on 9 Sep 1941. They joined 118 other trainee pilots who had boarded the ship in Sydney and made up the ninth draft of trainee pilots sent to Rhodesia. ""HMT Queen Elizabeth joined with MHT Queen Mary comprised Convoy US12A. The troops aboard and the airmen disembarked on 25 Sep 1942 with the airmen waiting for a ship that would take them south. A family story suggests that they were used as anti-aircraft gunners during the wait, but nothing to validate this is include in their records.

On 21 Oct 1942 the trainee pilots boarded On 12 Nov 1941 Alan joined the ITW at Bulawayo, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). On 2 Jan 1942 he had progressed to join No. 26 Elementary Flight Training School. On 3 Mar 1942 he was posted to No. 22 Service Flying Training School, completing his training on 7 Aug 1942.

Forced north by enemy action in the Indian Ocean to Egypt where the RAAF personnel served for a time as anti-aircraft gunners. Disembarked Rhodesia 31 Oct 1941 Completed flying training and promoted Sergeant Pilot on 31 Jul 1942

Promoted Flight Sergeant 31 Jan 1943 Qualified as an RAF Air Navigator on 17 Apr 1943

On 27 Aug 1942 Alan embarked in Cape Town South Africa on a ship for the UK where he disembarked on 19 Sep 1942. On arrival he was posted to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre at Bournemouth on the south coast. On 6 Oct 1942 he was posted to 17 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, and following his training to No. 3 SofGR on 31 Oct 1942.

On 12 Feb 1943 Alan was posted to No. 8(C) Operational Training Unit at RAF Detling in Kent, for training in photo reconnaissance work, and then on 8 May 1943 to RAF Benson in South Oxfordshire, where he undertook a conversion course from Spitfire fighters, to Supermarine Spitfire Photo Reconnaissance aircraft. On 15 May 1943 he was posted to 681 Squadron in the Middle East. A family story had him fly his specialist Spitfire from the UK to 681 Squadron's base at Dum Dum near Kolkata in India, arriving there on 16 Aug 1943.

Killed in air operations, India 28 Sep 1943

Notes

He was reported as Missing in Action in Casualty Report No 279 and his death was noted in Casualty Report NO 302.