Henry Frederick Wills

Henry Frederick Wills

Personal Information
Date of Birth	31 Aug 1925
Place of Birth	Wembley, Western Australia
Death	8 Oct 2006 aged 81
Place of Death	Bullcreek, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	18 years old
Description	5'8" (1.73m) tall ; 136lbs 61.689 kg ; medium complexion ; grey eyes ; black hair
Occupation	Armament Assistant
Religion	Church of England
Address	'Westminster Orchard', Byford, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr. William Thomas Wills
Military Information
Reg Number	35385
Date of Enlistment	10 Sep 1943
Rank	Warrant Officer
Post War Details
Fate	Remained in Australia
Monument(s)	Byford WW2 Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Medals	War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Attended Byford State School in Grades 6 & 7, before moving to Perth Boys School to complete Year 8. he had been a member of the Air Training Corps 79 Squadron for 14 months from 9 Apr 1942.

War Service

On 10 Sep 1943 Henry enlisted in the RAAF at No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre in Perth, and was mustered as Aircrew TG V. The following day he was transferred to No. 4 Recruit Depot RAAF to undergo a Recruit Drill course. On 27 Oct 1943 Henry was transferred to No. 5 Initial Training School RAAF at Clontarf. Promoted Leading Aircraftman on 31 Jan 1944, he was next he was sent to Ballarat on 3 Feb 1944 to join No. 1 Wireless Air Gunners School RAAF and on completion of the training was remustered as Aircrew (E) TG II and on 14 Aug 1944 promoted Temporary Sergeant. On 15 Sep 1944 he transferred to No. 3 Bombing & Air Gunnery School RAAF at West Sale. Training completed for the moment, he was posted to No. 1 Personnel Depot RAAF on 10 Oct 1944.

On 16 Oct 1944 Henry was posted to No. 67 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron RAAF at Laverton, and while there he participated in an operational flight to sea on 26 Oct 1944. On 18 Jan 1945 Henry transferred to the No. 1 Radar School RAAF at Maryborough in central Victoria before returning on 17 Feb 1945 to No. 1 Wireless Air Gunners School RAAF at Ballarat. Henry was on 14 Mar 1945 promoted Temporary Flight Sergeant. On 22 Apr 1945 Henry was posted for three weeks to the A/C School at Watsonia. This was followed by another visit to No. 1 Wireless Air Gunners School RAAF at Ballarat from 12 May 1945 until 5 Aug 1945, On 6 Aug 1945 Henry was posted to No. 7 Operational Training Unit RAAF at Tocumwal on the NSW/Vic border. He was detached to No. 3 Personnel Depot Brisbane from 25 - 28 Oct 1945.

On 7 Nov 1945 Henry was posted to No. 21 Squadron RAAF, then based at Morotai but moving back to Tocumwal on 17 Nov 1945. Henry spent from 12 - 15 Dec 1945 on Morotai. He remained with the squadron until 6 May 1946 at Tocumwal, being promoted on 14 Mar 1946 to Temporary Warrant Officer. He was on 6 Jun 1946, posted to No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF in Perth, and for a time (12 Jun to 4 July 1946) he was detached to HQ WA. On 4 Jul 1946 he transferred to the units discharge Section and was discharged on 24 Jul 1946. Total flying hours 250, with 150 operational.

Post War

Henry married Patricia