John Chadwick Meachem
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 5 Dec 1919 |
| Place of Birth | Perth, Western Australia |
| Occupation | Forrester |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Brookton road, Roleystone |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Frank Meachem |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 441288 |
| Date of Enlistment | 19 Jun 1943 |
| Rank | Flying Officer |
| Unit/Formation | No. 30 Squadron RAAF |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument(s) | Roleystone Roll of Honour |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
John was a Probationary Forrester at Hoffman's Mill.
War Service
John enlisted in the RAAF on 19 Jun 1943 at the No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre mustering as Aircrew trade group V. The same day he was posted to the No. 5 Initial Training School RAAF at Clontarf. This stage of training sucessfully completed, on 16 Sep 1943 John was posted to No. 1 Wireless Air Gunners School RAAF in Ballarat, Victoria for specialist training. On the completion of his course he was posted on 27 Dec 1943 to No. 2 Air Observers School RAAF at Mount Gambier to join the No 9 Navigator / Wireless Operator Course. On 10 May 1943 John's mustering was changed to Navigator/Wireless Operator group V, and then to Navigator/ Wireless Operator group II on 11 Sep 1943 when he was also appointed a Leading Aircraftsman.
John was discharged from the enlisted ranks of the RAAF on 28 Apr 1944 having been granted a Commission as a Pilot Officer. He was posted to No. 5 Operational Training Unit RAAF where he participated in the No 19 Beaufighter O/T Course, training with them until 17 Sep 1944 when he was posted to No. 1 Reserve Personnel Pool RAAF in Townsville .
Two days later he had joined No. 30 Squadron RAAF at Noemfoor Island north of Dutch New Guinea, remaining with them for the duration of the war. The Squadron relocated to Morotai on 2 March 1945 from where on 3 May 1945 the Squadron's advance group boarded Manoora and Westralia for Tarakan, disembarking on 7 May 1945. The remainder of the Squadron and their equipment followed in a Landing Ship Tank (LST) convoy which arrived on 16 May 1945.
On 16 Jul 1945 John was posted to No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF to be processed for his discharge which took place on 19 Sep 1945.
Post War
Notes