Beaufort A9-665 with 9th SQN

[tankengine888]

Hello!
I am trying to find the crew of Beaufort A9-665, piloted by one Pilot Officer, later promoted Flight Lieutenant [417425] Thomas George Secker [RAAF], who piloted the plane for a few months in 1945. I'd like to also find a photo of him if it is possible, or even the plane! He was born in 1923 and died 2005. Any other information regarding Secker himself is nice, and in advance, I have seen his service record.

TTFN.

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

You will find a photo of 417425 Thomas George SECKER RAAF, here:

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1120929

Other shots here: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear...aspx?B=5262208 see:p.12 of 44.

Secker was with No.8 Sqn RAAF, not the 9th SQN.

No.8 Sqn RAAF ORB - 3 June, 1945 - Flying Officer T. G. SECKER (417425) Pilot and crew arrived on posting ex-No.1 Reserve Personnel Pool, Aitkenvale, Q/land - https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear...aspx?B=1339942 - see p.475 of 532.

Secker's 1st op, 7/6/1945 - Beaufort A9-658 - p.487 of 532 - read on!

Col.

[tankengine888]

Hello!
I am aware that this group photo exists, along with another.
I was hoping to find a photo portrait of him, although his photo on enlistment is quite low quality.
I see he is 7th from right, front row.

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

Here is Secker's wife (a member of the Australian Women's Army Service) - https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/vet...715338&c=WW2#R (nee JESSER).

Col.

[tankengine888]

Cheers for that!
Sorry, not sure how to change the name of the thread.
Knew the AWAS bit, but still cheers!

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

Can't be absolutely sure, but I think F/Lt Secker's crew is mentioned somewhere on this page (he definitely is!):

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear...spx?B=30920264 - see: p.35 of 75.

Here are the two (2) crews posted out on 3 October, 1945 (F/Lt. SECKER and F/O FULTON:

OFFICERS.

F/Lt. T. G. SECKER (417425) G.D.
F/O. E. L. WHITCROFT (41180) G.D.
F/Lt. R. H. TROON (401569) G.D.

F/O. J. D. FULTON (411769) G.D.

AIRMEN.

416191 W/O. W.Op.Air (2) PRETTY, W. A.

436987 F/S. Nav."B" (1) INKPEN, G. R.
406867 W/O. W.Op.Air (2) PARKER, A. J.
414539 W/O. W.Op.Air (2) DAVIS, J. B.

Now, to match them up!

Col.

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

Here is Secker's crew:

417425 F/Lt (Pilot) Thomas George SECKER RAAF
41180 F/O (Nav."B") Edmond Leonard Ord WHITCROFT RAAF
401569 F/Lt (W/T.Op.Air) Robert Harrington TROON RAAF
416191 W/O (W/T.Op.Air) Walter Arthur PRETTY RAAF

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear...aspx?B=1358868 - see: p.542 of 903 - 3/10/45.

Col.

[tankengine888]

Your a bloody legend!
Thank you alot!
slight question... 2 Wireless Operators?
P.S
Seems like he is in here somewhere?
https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+390
I wonder if Secker is in the photo.

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

Australian Beauforts usually carried a crew of four - a pilot, navigator and two wireless/air gunners. The navigator was positioned in the nose of the Beaufort. The pilot was seated on the port (left) side of the aircraft, level with the leading edge of the wing. The wireless operator had his desk behind the pilot. Although facing forward, his only view from the aircraft was a port-side window as a darkened area was needed for viewing the radar screen. The gunner moved into the turret after take-off where from his exposed position facing the tail of the plane, he could keep a watchful eye on the rear of the aircraft.

See:
Song Of The Beauforts - No 100 Squadron RAAF and Beaufort Bomber Operations.
King,Colin M.
Tuggeranong (ACT):Air Power Development Centre,2008 (2nd ed.)
p.279.

Available to read online, here: https://www.radschool.org.au/Books/s...0beauforts.pdf

Col.

[tankengine888]

Cheers!
Another question
Is it usual to use other aircrafts?
On logs on the war diary [between May and July 1945], he is shown to flew the following

9 June 1945 - A9-658 [Mispelled F/O Seker]
17 June 1945 - A9-658
23 June 1945 - A9-658
24 June 1945 - A9-475
26 June 1945 - A9-602
27 June 1945 - A9-602
28 June 1945 - A9-602
29 June 1945 - A9-373
30 June 1945 - A9-602
1 July 1945 - A9-602
3 July 1945 - A9-602
4 July 1945 - A9-602
6 July 1945 - A9-602
9 July 1945 - A9-602
10 July 1945 - A9-602
15 July 1945 - A9-665
PROMOTED - F/LT on 25 July 1945
1 September 1945 - A9-643
3 October 1945 - F/L T.G. Secker and crew.. J.D Fulton and Crew departed on posting to No.8 Comm. U.

I remember, on a frame, there was a name on it, reading something like this
"Beaufort Mk.V, Piloted by "Tom" Secker in 8th Squadron"
The markings on it were A9-360... I recall A9-360 was sent to 1st OTU, where "Tom" later/earlier served.

Nothing else to say, thanks alot!