Avon William Mills
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 24 Jun 1909 |
| Place of Birth | Armadale, Western Australia |
| Death | 28 Apr 1998 |
| Place of Death | Quairading, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 32 years, 5 months |
| Description |
5'6" (1.68m) tall ; 134lbs 60.781 kg ; medium complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair ; appendix scar |
| Occupation | Share farmer |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Address | 'Morockdong', Dangin, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Nellie May Wills |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 46140 |
| Date of Enlistment | 17 Dec 1941 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit/Formation | No. 21 Squadron RAAF |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 19 Jan 1944 ‒ 3 Feb 1944 |
| Transport Details | unknown Brisbane to Lae Papua New Guinea |
| Journey Dates | ‒ 13 Mar 1944 |
| Transport Details | unknown Lae, Papua New Guinea to Sydney |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
Married Nellie May Neaves (1914 - 2013) in Perth on 19 Jun 1937. Daughters Marion Joy, born on 9 Mar 1939 and Florence Anne, born on 6 Aug 1941. Thomas Avon and Dorothy followed.
Electoral Roll entries: 1934 - 1943 Aldersyde, farmer.
War Service
Avon enlisted in the Air Force reserve at No. 4 Recruitment Centre in Perth and was sent to No. 4 Recruit Depot RAAF, at Pearce 17 Dec 1941 as Aircraftsman level 1, mustered as a Aircrafthand. There he completed a basic Drill course before being posted to the No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School RAAF, in Port Pirie, South Australia on 19 Jan 1942. While there he was charged on 2 Feb 1942 with having been AWOL from 7:15 am until 1:00pm that day. He was awarded 3 days Confined to Barracks. He also was for a time detached to No.1 Mobile Works Squadron at Ascot Vale in Victoria (6 - 13 Jun 1942).
On 24 Jun 1942 Avon was promoted to Leading Aircraftsman and then on 6 Aug 1942 he re-mustered as a Driver Motor Transport. On 3 Oct 1942 he was posted to No. 4 Embarkation Depot RAAF Adelaide. His next posting was to No. 55 Operational Base Unit RAAF at Birdum in the Northern Territory on 21 Oct 1942. Birdum is almost 500 km south of Darwin. Four days later on 25 Oct 1942 he was posted to No. 76 Squadron RAAF at Strauss, still in the Northern Territory. The Squadron embarked in Darwin on 29 Jan 1943, and disembarked in Onslow 4 Feb 1943. It moved to Bankstown NSW on 11 May 1943 once the threat of invasion of WA receded. Sent back to No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School RAAF, in Port Pirie on 26 May 1943 before being posted to No. 21 Squadron RAAF at Gawler, South Australia on 13 Sep 1943. The squadron was being reformed having suffered heavy losses in Singapore, and was being re-equipped with Vultee Vengeance dive-bombers. It moved to Lowood in the hills west of Brisbane on 1 Dec 1943 to undertake advanced training before returning to action.
The Squadron embarked in Brisbane on 19 Jan 1944, and disembarked in Lae, Papua New Guinea on 3 Feb 1944. It moved to the Nadzab airstrip the same day and soon after was in action. Unfortunately the plane's short flying range made it unsuitable for operations in New Guinea, and on 10 Apr 1944 the squadron was again on the move, this time to Camden in New South Wales on 27 Jun 1944, before they moved on 20 Jul 1944 to Leyburn, in Queensland where the squadron converted to Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers. Avon was promoted Corporal on 1 Aug 1944. Conversion took six months, and once complete, the squadron moved again on 28 Dec 1944, this time to Fenton in the Northern Territory. Although Avon was hospitalised with No. 1 Medical Receiving Station RAAF from 11 Jan to 2 Feb 1945 his records don't give a cause.
On 7 Jun 1945 he was posted to the No. 4 Repair and Salvage Unit RAAF at Darwin. Avon applied for and was granted Special LWOP from 22 May until 3 Sep 1945 to allow him to work on the wheat and sheep farm at Dangin that he jointly farmed with his brother. His records were held by the No. 4 Repair and Salvage Unit at Darwin. Then on 3 Sep 1945 he was posted to the No. 2 Reserve Personnel Pool. The next day he was re-allocated to the No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF in Perth for discharge which occurred on 19 Oct 1945.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1958 at Aldersyde, farmer; 1963 - 1972 at Dangin, South of Boundary, farmer; 1977 - 1980 at 51 Jennaberring road, Quairading, farmer
Notes