Info: Australian? Allied Unit, 1256932, Sgt Bruce Paul "PYFO" Dunstan, RAF, 41sq.

I have quite a deal of information on this Australian born Airman in the RAF but would welcome any additions or corrections.



Any further information would be appreciated.

Need assistance on Who/Where/What/How for this man who is on the Australian Commemorative Roll which is for those "Australians" who died in other Allied Services. If proved not to be "Australian" their names will not be removed from the Commemorative Roll however their details will be updated accordingly.

I have researched the Air Force members but there are many more Land and Sea deaths in a myriad of different forces.

There is not a lot of information on these people that can be accessed easily and I ask your assistance to fill in at least some of the gaps.

Hopefully some relatives may see this thread and add more.

I will make a different thread for each along the way as they may tend to get lost if clumped together.

In Memory of
Sergeant BRUCE PAUL DUNSTAN

1256932, 41 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died age 21
on 12 February 1942
Son of Horace John Dunstan, and of Helene Josephine Dunstan, of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.
Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

[FONT=&quot]1256923 SGT DUNSTAN, BRUCE PAUL[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](Born In Chelsea, Vic. Aust. – Enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve –[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Missing 12 February 1942)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]REFERENCES :[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](1) AWM 76 (B 155) :[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Place & Date of Birth : Chelsea, Victoria, Aust. 1[FONT=&quot]st [/FONT][FONT=&quot]September 1920.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Pre War Profession : Plumbers Mate[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Principal Units in which served :[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]11 July 1940 1 R. C. Uxbridge, UK[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]15 July 1940 9 R.C. Drem 31 July 1940 No 1 R.N.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]30 August 1940 5 I.T.W. 14 Sept 1940 No 50 Group 23 Nov 1940 Pool.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]8 March 1941 8 S.F.T.S.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]9 June 1941 53 O.T.U.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]26 July 1941 No 452 Sqn RAF (Note : Sqn at Kenley then Red Hill. Aircraft[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Spitfires.)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]15 January 1942 No 41 Sqn RAF (Note : Sqn at Westhampnett. Aircraft Spitfires)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]12 Feb 1942 No 1 Depot N/E[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Battle Casualty :[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Missing killed in action 12 February 1942. Death presumed that date.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Promotions : 11 July 1940 : A.C.2. 19 Sept 1940 : L.A.C. 24 May 1941 : Sergeant.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Awarded Flying Badge : 24 May 1941[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Last known address next- of-kin : Mrs H J McKilligan, 9 Clifton Grove, Old Torwood[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Road, Torquay. UK. (Mother)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](2) AWM Commemorative Roll Database :[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Service : RAF Volunteer Reserve[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Date of Death : 12/2/1942 Age at Death : 21 years[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Memorial : Runnymede[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Notes : served with Britain.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](3) Commonwealth War Graves :[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Son of Horace John Dunstan and Helen Josephine Dunstan of Westcliffe on Sea,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Essex.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Name commemorated on Panel 82 Runnymede Memorial, Sussex. UK.[/FONT]

From: Sergeant Dunstan 41 Squadron

Sgt. Dunstan was born in Chelsea, Victoria, Australia on 11th September 1920. He was the son of Horace J. & Helene J. Dunstan of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.

He joined 41 Squadron on 16th January 1942.
On 12th February he returned early with engine trouble in Spitfire Vb (W3565) from bomber escort action against the German warships Gneisenau, Prinz Eugen and Scharnhorst off the Belgian coast. He was forced to ditch, and was not heard of again. He was reported 'missing' - presumed dead over the Channel, but his exact fate is unknown.

Name: Mstr B P Dunstan Birth Date: abt 1920 Age: 4 Port of Departure: Australia Arrival Date: 7 Aug 1924 Port of Arrival: Hull, England Ports of Voyage: Sydney
[Melbourne]
[Adelaide]
[Brisbane]
[Colombo]
[Southampton] Ship Name: Esperance Bay Search Ship Database: View the 'Esperance Bay' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database Shipping line: Australian Commonwealth Line Official Number: 140148
6th August 1924
Arrived TSS Esperance Bay Southampton from Adelaide.
Mrs H. J. Dunstan 28
Master G. H. Dunstan 7
Master B. P. Dunstan 4

C/O G.G. Sandoir (Chaudoir)
15 Dalmeny Road
Tufnell Park
London N7
Name: Horace John Dunstan Age: 24 Estimated birth year: abt 1892 Spouse Name: Helene Josephine Chaudoir Spouse Age: 21 Record Type: Marriage Marriage Date: 16 Sep 1916 Parish: St George, Tufnell Park County: London Borough: Islington Father Name: John Dunstan (Station Master) Spouse Father Name: Guillame Gustave Chaudoir (Music Professor)

 

Spidge
I can assist with this entry. I am Bruce's nephew.
Here is a picture of him behind and between Paddy Finucane and Keith Truscott.
Robin Tilbrook