Air Vice-Marshal Reggie Bullen - Telegraph Awarded the George Medal. Gazetted on the 14 September 1945 Flight Lieutenant Reginald BULLEN (125303), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. On the night of the 19th April, 1944, this officer was navigator of a Wellington aircraft which crashed on landing and burst into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and four members of the crew were -killed. Flight Lieutenant Bullen was thrown through the side of the aircraft as it burst open and sustained fractures of the left leg and right arm, and a slight fracture of the spine. The heat was intense and ammunition was exploding." There was also the additional danger that eight depth charges might explode at any moment. Despite this and hisi severe injuries Flight Lieutenant Bullen made his way inside the blazing aircraft to the wirelpss operator and dragged him to a safe distance, clear of the flames. When the ambulance arrived on the scene Flight Lieutenant Bullen was in great pain and was quickly removed to sick quarters. His very brave and gallant action, performed when suffering such intense pain from his own injuries, undoubtedly saved the life of the wireless operator.
Perhaps the most gallant and driven feat I have read recently. With his back and leg and in his gear, he would have struggled to walk. When he finally got to the W/O, he only had one working arm to help him! Then there was the threat of the ammunition and the depth charges. Amazing and inspirational. I note his time with 39 Sqn with no small measure of excitement. Haven't come across him yet in my readings. Kyt, have you checked Armed Rovers for a mention? He doesn't ring a bell. I will check my We Find and Destroy - the 458 Sqn history - for reference to this crash as it'll be in there. 458 lost 135 men during its service. This crash equates to 2.9% of those losses. The Cambridge history is also impressive. Will have to keep it in mind next time I see photos etc.
Nothing in Armed Rovers mate. This is the ORB page for 458 but is difficult to read. Hope you can find the right aircraft serial because what I think the ORB says doesn't match the aircraft crash date or crew.
Name: McMILLAN, HERBERT RUSSELL Initials: H R Nationality: Australian Rank: Flying Officer Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Air Force Age: 22 Date of Death: 19/04/1944 Service No: 409574 Additional information: Son of Herbert Arthur and Gertrude Alice McMillan, of Thornbury, Victoria, Australia. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Prot. Sec. (Officers'). Plot E. Coll. grave 23. Cemetery: MALTA (CAPUCCINI) NAVAL CEMETERY Name: WAGSTAFFE, JOHN MICHAEL Initials: J M Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Warrant Officer (Pilot) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 458 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn. Date of Death: 19/04/1944 Service No: 1219231 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Prot. Sec. (Men's). Plot F. Coll. grave 49. Cemetery: MALTA (CAPUCCINI) NAVAL CEMETERY Name: WILLIAMSON, ROBERT HENRY Initials: R H Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Flight Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 458 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn. Date of Death: 19/04/1944 Service No: 1252008 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Prot. Sec. (Men's). Plot F. Coll. grave 49. Cemetery: MALTA (CAPUCCINI) NAVAL CEMETERY Name: HUNTLEY, ARTHUR JOHN Initials: A J Nationality: Australian Rank: Flight Sergeant Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Air Force Age: 25 Date of Death: 19/04/1944 Service No: 410488 Additional information: Son of Percy William and Nellie Jane Huntley, of Merricks North, Victoria, Australia. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Prot. Sec. (Men's). Plot F. Coll. grave 49. Cemetery: MALTA (CAPUCCINI) NAVAL CEMETERY The survivor Service Record Name CLARKE, HERWALD GRAHAM Service Royal Australian Air Force Service Number 412940 Date of Birth 5 Jul 1908 Place of Birth HABERFIELD, NSW Date of Enlistment 15 Aug 1941 Locality on Enlistment Unknown Place of Enlistment SYDNEY, NSW Next of Kin CLARKE, MARTHA Date of Discharge 16 Oct 1945 Rank Flying Officer Posting at Discharge 10 ADVANCED FLYING UNIT WW2 Honours and Gallantry None for display Prisoner of War No
Here's the pages from the 458 book mentioned above where the crash is covered. The swamp referred to at the end of the second page is, something new for me, the practice of keeping a continuous stream/relay of aircraft over an area where a submarine was known to be operating - the belief being it would eventually come up for air. I knew this book was excellent (there are a couple of minor errors) but flicking through it has brought it near the top of the "to read" list! Well, it'll be read before the year is out anyway! LOL.
Amazing lads. In the time it took me to scan and post, you guys had added all of your posts above this one! What resources you guys have at your fingertips! Sobering that Huntley had already survived a crash.
Huntley's case is sad indeed. Imagine his family receiving news of his injuries (att #1), and then his death a short while after (att #2) http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=1070357&I=1&SE=1
Kevin on rafcommands has confirmed that the aircraft was HF243 coded X. Which is what is stated in Huntley's file but the ORB has the wrong serial. 458 Squadron 19/04/1944 - RafCommands Forums
