ID of RAAF Kittyhawk pilots

[Tom Semenza]

In Mark Johnston's book Whispering Death: Australian Airmen in the Pacific War there are lists of confirmed and probable victory claims. Unfortunately, with a few exceptions, only last names are given. Most are fairly common names and, unless mentioned in the text of the book, are very difficult if not impossible to find on the NAA website. I am hoping someone can provide full names or initials and/or service numbers of the following pilots:

75 Squadron RAAF (claims made on 14.04.43)
F/O Archie "Ben" Hall (possibly Archibald Holmes Hall- 408830)
Jones
J. Morrison
Todd
Ward

78 Squadron RAAF (claims made on 03.06.44)
Griffiths
Smith

86 Squadron RAAF (claims made on 23.01.44)
Kerrison (possibly Stephen Taylor Kerrison - 408373)

Thanks in advance for any help.
Tom

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

No.77 Squadron RAAF.

HALL = 408830 Sgt Archibald Holmes HALL RAAF
JONES = 403345 F/O Peter Booth JONES RAAF (later DFC)
MORRISON = 407587 P/O John Collin MORRISON RAAF (later AFC)
TODD = 402892 F/O Noel Claude TODD RAAF
WARD = 401003 P/O William John WARD RAAF + 8 August 1943

No.78 squadron RAAF.

GRIFFITHS = 408576 F/L John Carmichael GRIFFITH RAAF - 5/44 - 12/44 - + 2 December 1944
SMITH = 423328 F/Sgt Clive Lucas SMITH RAAF - 7/43 - 6/44

No.86 Squadron RAAF.

KERRISON = 408373 F/Sgt Stephen Taylor KERRISON RAAF

Sources:

RAAF Official History Vol.2. Air War Against Japan 1943-1945.
Odgers,George.
Canberra:A.W.M.,1968.
(use index)
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070210/

Seek and Strike 75 Squadron RAAF 1942-2002.
Wilson,David J.
Maryborough:Banner Books,2002.
pp.91-95 + Appendixes.

This Smuttee Squadron:The History of 78 Squadron RAAF During and Post WW2.
Clarke,Gordon.
78 Squadron Association,2012
pp.137-57 + Appendixes.

And, of course; the DVA WW2 Nominal Roll website: http://www.ww2roll.gov.au

Col.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Tom,

All RAAF ORBs are available online for free.

Go to http://naa12.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetri...sicSearch.aspx

Type as keyword (for example) 86 Squadron history, and then read the digitized items.

Or you can also type as keywords combat reports, there are digitized files for some squadrons (including 86), but not all of them, contrary to the war history sheet (actually ORB Form 540/541) that are almost 100% available (from memory one or two rear aera squadrons are not digitized)

Best regards

[Tom Semenza]

Col., thanks so much for the quick and detailed response. Just the info I was hoping for. Thanks also for siting the references.

Laurent, thank you for the search clues for the NAA website. I had previously failed to find the ORBs for many of the RAAF fighter squadrons. I searched under "Form A50 75 Squadron" for example and came up with nothing for the 1942-45 period. However using your suggestion of "xx Squadron History" has opened up new doors for me.

Again, thanks to you both.

Tom