LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Clifford James WILLISS
Service No: 437187
Born: Minlaton SA, 29 January 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 7 November 1942
Unit: No. 76 Squadron, Noemfoor Island
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 76 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-346), New Guinea, 29 October 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Mervyn Ralph and Hilda Lavina Williss, of Port Victoria, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Port Victoria SA
Remembered: Panel 6, Lae Memorial, PNG
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
On 29 October 1944, at about 1050 hours Kittyhawk A29-346 flown by Pilot Officer Williss (437187) and Kittyhawk A29-337 flown by Flying Officer Glendinning (428386) went missing on an operation training flight. The aircraft collided during a formation turn, broken up and fell into the sea. Eleven Squadron aircraft were to engage in combat training with USAAF P-47 aircraft.
The members of the Fighter Section were:
Flying Officer (later Flight Lieutenant) Francis Hamilton Cashmore (400778) (Section Leader) Discharged from the RAAF: 1 July 1947
Flying Officer William Glendinning (428386)
Flying Officer Wallace Joseph Nugent (413024) Discharged from the RAAF: 25 October 1945
Flying Officer Clifford James Williss (437197)
Witness from another Fighter Section:
Flying Officer (later Flight Lieutenant) Melville Challenor Ferrier (22392) Discharged from the RAAF: 19 December 1945
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 10