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
Address	Perth, Western Australia
Next of Kin	, R 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
External Monument(s)	The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Ballarat, Victoria
Medals	1939-45 Star Aircrew Europe Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

During 1941 Billy married Beatrice Jackson in Victoria. She was liviing in Donnybrook in early 1945.

War Service

The RAAF first received notification that Billy was a POW on27 Aug 1942. Promoted Flight Sergeant on 1 May 1943 while a POW, and to Warrant Officer on 1 May 1944 while a POW.

No. 1651 Conversion Unit RAF was based at RAF Waterbeach, about 9 km 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, including Billy's.

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- rdered 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".

Liberated on 9 Apr 1945. 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. Held Stalag VIII B 344 POW number 25115.

On 13 Apr 1945 Billy arrived at No. 11 (RAAF) PDRC, Brighton. 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 Crtoss 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.

Embarked in the UK for Australia on 30 May 1945. discharged 11 Jan 1946

Post War

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

External Links

• Ballarat POW Memorial
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