Robert (Mick) Bunney

Robert (Mick) Bunney

Personal Information
Date of Birth	12 Mar 1923
Place of Birth	Kelmscott, Western Australia
Death	30 Sep 1947, aged 24
Place of Death	Kununoppin, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 2 months
Description	5'6' (1.68m) tall ; 113lbs 51.256 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Motor mechanic
Religion	Church of England
Address	Trayning, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother , Mrs May Bunney
Military Information
Reg Number	38908
Date of Enlistment	9 Jun 1941
Rank	Corporal
Unit/Formation	No. 99 Squadron RAAF
Post War Details
Fate	Remained in Australia

Pre War

Immediately prior to his enlistment he had worked in the garage for Ord & Cocking in Trayning, as well as in the town's Power house. Prior to that in Kunnonopping he had worked for 3 years in a garage and also in their power house.

War Service

Robert enlisted in the Citizens Air Force Reserve on 9 Jun 1941 as an Aircraftsman Level 1 at No. 4 Recruiting Centre, Perth. He was placed on the No. 100 Recruit Drill Course at Pearce. On completion of this course he was from 14 - 25 Jul 1941 detached to the No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School RAAF at Port Pirie in South Australia. Next, he was posted on 26 Jul 1941 to No. 4 School of Technical Training RAAF in Adelaide to undertake a Technical Fitter's Course. On its completion (18 Oct 1941) he was then posted to No. 1 Engineering School RAAF at Ascot Vale in Victoria where he completed a Flight Rigger's course. Robert then remustered as a Flight Rigger on 24 Jan 1942, and on 4 Feb 1942 he was posted to No. 1 Wireless Air Gunners School RAAF in Ballarat. While there, on 1 Jul 1942 Robert was promoted to Leading Aircraftsman. This was followed on 19 Aug 1942 by him entering the No. 2 Air Navigation School RAAF at Nhill, Victoria and then on 3 Sep 1942 a posting to No. 97 Reserve Squadron RAAF which was also based at Nhill.

On 1 Oct 1942 he was back at No. 2 Air Navigation School RAAF, where on 2 Oct 1942 Robert remustered as a Fitter Level IIA and returned to the rank of Aircraftsman Level 1. His next posting was on 13 Oct 1942 to No. 1 Engineering School RAAF. Then on 12 Nov 1942 he was posted to the No. 1 Air Observers School RAAF at Cootamundra in southern New South Wales where on 1 Dec 1942 he was promoted to Leading Aircraftsman and completed a Aircraft & Ship Recognition Course. Robert's next posting was to No. 7 Aircraft Depot RAAF at Tocumwal airfield on the NSW, Victorian border on 9 Jan 1943. On 21 Oct 1944 Robert married Ethel Isobella.

On 11 Jan 1945 Robert was briefly posted to Point Cook, where he participated on the No. 10T Liberator Conversion Course between 15 Jan and 6 Feb 1945. He was promoted to Corporal before being posted to No. 2 Personnel Depot on 6 Mar 1945. On 18 Mar 1945 he was posted to No. 99 Squadron RAAF as it began receiving their Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers and was moved to Jondaryan in Queensland. The Squadron was declared to be operational in April 1945 and it moved to Darwin in May. However, it was not fully functionable before the end of the war and so did not see action against the Japanese. Following the end of the war No. 99 Squadron aircraft were utilised as transport aircraft carrying both personnel and supplies between Darwin and southern Australia. The squadron suffered its first loss on 14 September when a Liberator crashed near RAAF Base Amberley, killing five crew members. Transport operations continued throughout October, with the squadron's aircraft transporting around 800 passengers, most of whom were recently liberated Allied prisoners of war, and a large quantity of freight.

Robert sought early release from the RAAF to work as a Tractor Serviceman in his home town of Kununoppin. This was granted and he took his discharge on 7 Nov 1945.

Post War

FATAL ROAD COLLISION Man Dies From Head Injuries TRAYNING, Sept. 30. A man received severe head injuries, from which he later died, in a collision between a "blitz" wagon and a utility at the corner of Scaddan and Lamond streets, Kununoppin, shortly after midday today. Two other men were injured. The victims were: KILLED. BUNNEY, Robert. garage proprietor, of Kununoppin. INJURED. PADDISON. Allan (67). of Ralph street, Victoria Park.--Admitted to the Kununoppin Hospital. BAKER. Clarence Patrick, of Wentworth Hotel. Perth.-Minor abrasions. The utility, which was driven by Bunney, collided with the "blitz" wagon, of which the driver was C. P. Baker, and overturned. It was badly damaged. Bunney was taken to hospital, where he died shortly after admission. Paddison was a passenger in the vehicle driven by Baker. His condition is not serious.

Notes

Robert and his wife Ethel had two daughters, Wendy and Judith.