LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Arthur Lloyd WILLIAMS
Service No: 401019
Born: Bendigo VIC, 16 September 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 8 December 1940
Unit: No. 450 Squadron
Died: Air Operations: (No. 450 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft AK717), Libya, 22 May 1942, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Lewis Williams and Thurza Irene Williams, of Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Bendigo VIC
Remembered: Column 266, Alamein Memorial, Egypt
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 22 May 1942, Kittyhawks AK948 flown by Sergeant Elston John Quirk (404770) and AK717 flown by Sergeant Williams were in an eight aircraft formation detailed to provide top cover for Boston bombers attacking a target in the vicinity Martuba. After crossing the coast, three miles south of Ras Del, Me109s attacked the Kittyhawk top cover. One Kittyhawk was shot down and burst into flames and another was seen to spin in out of control. Both AK948 and AK717 failed to return to base.
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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/178/322