LEST WE FORGET
Aircraftman Class 1 Howard Herbert Delaine MILLS
Service No: 153740
Born: Norwood SA, 6 August 1911
Enlisted in the RAAF: 14 September 1944
Unit: No. 1 Stores Depot, Port Melbourne VIC
Died: Ground Accident, Melbourne VIC, 23 October 1944, Aged 33 Years
Buried: Springvale War Cemetery, VIC
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Frank Roland and Cissy Cornelius Mills; husband of Violet Lillian Mills, of Edwardstown, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Unley SA
Remembered: Panel 114, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
On 23 October 1944, a four member RAAF team from No. 1 Stores Depot was unloading air conditioning units at the Allied Works Council Yard at Salmon Street, Port Melbourne. During unloading, the jib of the crane being used touched overhead power lines, killing two members and injuring the others. The team was:
Leading Aircraftman Harold James Colley-Allerton (126075) Shock and burns, Discharged from the RAAF: 14 December 1944
Sergeant Vincent Joseph Davoren (12405)
Aircraftman Class 1 Howard Herbert Delaine Mills (153740)
Leading Aircraftman Theodorus Heywood Van Alkemade (157261) Shock and burns, Discharged from the RAAF: 25 January 1946
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 A705, 166/27/609