Edward Arthur Ross

Edward Arthur Ross

Personal Information
Date of Birth	6 Jun 1914
Place of Birth	Armadale, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	25 years, 6 months
Description	5'10½" (1.79m) tall ; 139lbs 63.049 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair ; scar on left knee
Occupation	motor mechanic
Religion	Church of England
Address	c/o Baskerville, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Donald James Ross
Military Information
Reg Number	8462
Date of Enlistment	30 Jan 1940
Rank	Leading Aircraftsman
Unit/Formation	No. 8 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	10 Apr 1945
Journey Dates	‒ 14 Dec 1945
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

Enlisted on 3 Jan 1940, mustered as an Aircraft Hand (Mechanical), entering the training depot at Laverton, Victoria. On 1 Mar 1940 he moved to Ascot vale where he attended the No. 1 Engineering School RAAF. He was remustered to Flight Mechanic on 15 Jun 1940, and remustered as a Flight Mechanic. On 6 Jul 1940, training completed for the moment, he was posted to No. 13 (City of Darwin) Squadron RAAF in Darwin who were flying Lockheed Hudson light bombers.

On 24 Jul 1941 he was transferred to No. 25 (City of Perth) Squadron RAAF at Pearce who flew obsolete CAC Wirraway and Brewster Buffalo aircraft to provide air defence for Perth. On 23 Oct 1941 he was again attending the No. 1 Engineering School RAAF before moving on 16 Feb 1942 to the No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School RAAF at Port Pirie in South Australia. On 10 Jun 1942 his posting changed to No. 3 School of Technical Training RAAF in Ultimo, New South Wales and then, after re-mustering as a Fitter DMT on 9 Aug 1942, then to the No. 7 Service Flying Training School RAAF at Deniliquin, NSW on 14 Aug 1942.

Training completed, Ted briefly joined No. 63 Reserve Squadron RAAF on 7 Sep 1942 before another stint with No. 7 Service Flying Training School RAAF from 1 Oct 1942 until 8 May 1944. On 22 Oct 1942 Ted was charged with being AWOL from 7:30am on 20 Oct until 7:30 am on the 21st for which he received three days extra duty. Although he acted as a Corporal from 1 Aug 1943 until 20 Jan 1944, he was again charged on 13 Sep 1943 with another AWOL period. This time from 7:30am on 7 Sep until 7:30 on the 11 Sep 1943. Absent for 4 days he was Severely Reprimanded and lost an additional four days pay. On 5 Jan 1944 he was again charged with having been AWOL, from midnight 3 Jan 1944 until 8:00pm on 5 Jan 1944. Again a Severe Reprimand and forfeiture of two days pay.

On 9 May 1944 Ted was posted to No. 1 School of Technical Training RAAF as a member of Staff. This changed on 7 Aug 1944 when he was posted to the No. 1 Central Recovery Depot RAAF where on 10 Oct 1944 he was charged with having been AWOL from 2:00am on 8 Oct until Midnight on 9 Oct 1944. He was given 24 hours detention. He moved again on 11 Sep 1944 to No. 8 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF which at that time was in Morotai, in the Moluccas. From there they moved to Tarakan Island and then Balikpapan in what is now Indonesia's East Kalimantan. On 17 Dec 1945 he had returned to Australia and was taken on strength by the No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF before his discharge on 28 Feb 1946.

Post War

Re-enlisted in what was known as the Interim Air Force on 21 Aug 1946 after a 6 months break, as a fitter DMT, and on 16 Sep 1946 was posted to No. 346 (B) Squadron, remaining with them until 3 Jul 1947 after which he was posted to No 2. Airfield Construction Squadron at Pimba in South Australia. He returned to Pearce airbase to take his discharge at his own request on 14 Apr 1948.

Electoral Roll entries: 1958 - 1980 at 248 Place road, Wonthella, truck driver.