LEST WE FORGET
Warrant Officer Arthur Roland WILLIAMS
Service No: 421484
Born: Meerschaum Vale NSW, 29 November 1910
Enlisted in the RAAF: 1 February 1942
Unit: No. 159 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 159 Squadron Liberator aircraft BZ938), Myanmar, 31 January 1945, Aged 34 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Eli and Maude Victoria Williams, of Bagotville, Richmond River, New South Wales, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Coraki NSW
Remembered: Column 458, Singapore Memorial, Singapore
Remembered: Panel 132, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Coraki War Memorial, Coraki NSW
On 31 January 1945 Liberator BZ 938 crashed near the village of Letpanbin, Myanmar, while on a special signals flight mission in the areas of Yosange Isle, Rangoon River, Bassein, Ywangyaung, Meiktila, Ywathet, Moulmein, Bankok, Tavey and Diamond Isle. Following post war enquiries and investigations, local witnesses advised that three crew members were killed in the crash and six were taken prisoner. Two crew members survived the captivity.
The crew members of BZ938 were:
Flight Sergeant Leslie Adams (1592986) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Leslie Bellingan (710193) (RAFVR) (Second Pilot) PoW, Died: 7 February 1945
Squadron Leader J W Bradley (84656) (RAFVR) (Pilot) PoW
Flying Officer A G Jeffrey (147114) (RAFVR) (Navigator) PoW
Flying Officer William James John Lowery (156576) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator)
Flight Sergeant Robert James Snelling (1234723) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer) PoW, Died: 7 February 1945
Warrant Officer Arthur Roland Williams (421484) (Wireless Operator Air)
Flight Sergeant John Derek Woodage (1803337) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator) PoW, Died: 7 February 1945
Flight Sergeant Stanley James Woodbridge GC (1393806) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator) PoW, Died: 7 February 1945
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, 166/43/1140
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line