LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant John Riviere DALLAS
Service No: 61002
Born: Bombala NSW, 30 May 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 30 September 1941
Unit: No. 10 Squadron, RAF Mount Batten, Plymouth
Died: Air Operations: (No. 10 Squadron Sunderland aircraft DP177), Bay of Biscay, 11 August 1943, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Frederick Charles and Doris Marie Dallas, of Bingara, New South Wales, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Roseville NSW
Remembered: Panel 195, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 99, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Rathmines Memorial Bowling Club, Rathmines NSW
Flight Lieutenant Gerrard of No. 10 was attacked by six Ju-88s in the far south of the Bay of Biscay on 8th August, but escaped with minor damage; three days later he failed to return from a similar patrol.
Extract from Herington, J. (John) (406545) Air War Against Germany and Italy 1939-1943, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1954 – Page 618
The crew members of DP 177 were:
Pilot Officer Roydon James Adams (205795) (Air Gunner, Squadron Gunnery officer)
Sergeant Douglas Edward Bennington (33244) (Fitter IIE)
Flying Officer Ian William Bowen (412372) (First Pilot)
Sergeant James Edward Challinor (32957) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant John Reviere Dallas (61002) (Armourer / Air Gunner)
Sergeant John Gordon Dwyer (422461) (Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Norman Clive Gerrard (401502) (Pilot)
Warrant Officer Frank Howard Jones (403746) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant William Ernest George Matthews (16949) (Fitter IIA)
Flying Officer James Inman Rowland (421631) (Navigator)
Flying Officer Keith Dermer Smith (405664) (Second Pilot)
Warrant Officer James George Hudson Webster (405658) (Wireless Air Gunner)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/9/145
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line