The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (425413) Flight Sergeant Alastair Dale Johnston, No. 467 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Second World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (425413) Flight Sergeant Alastair Dale Johnston, No. 467 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Second World War.

425413 Flight Sergeant Alastair Dale Johnston, No. 467 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
KIA 10 May 1944

Today we remember and pay tribute to Flight Sergeant Alastair Dale Johnston.

Alastair Johnston was born on 8 August 1919 in Dunkeld, Victoria, the son of Charles and Frances Johnston.

Johnston attended Kingaroy State School, and enjoyed tennis, running, boxing, cricket, and swimming. After leaving school he followed in his father’s footsteps, training as a plumber’s apprentice and motor mechanic.

He served in the Militia, part of the 47th Battalion from 1938 to 1942. During that time he applied to join the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve, finally enlisting on 2 February 1942 at the age of 22. He trained as a wireless operator and air gunner, and in December was promoted to sergeant.

On 15 January 1943 Johnston embarked from Melbourne for overseas service, arriving in the United Kingdom in March. As part of the Empire Air Training Scheme he was one of almost 27,000 RAAF pilots, navigators, wireless operators, gunners, and engineers who joined Australian and British squadrons in Britain throughout the course of the war.

Johnston underwent specialist training in the UK, and in June 1943 was promoted to flight sergeant. He initially joined No. 9 Squadron, but two months later was posted to No. 467 Squadron, RAAF. As part of Bomber Command, No. 467 Squadron flew four-engined Avro Lancaster heavy bombers.

On the night of 10 May, 31 Lancaster bombers from Nos 463 and 467 Squadrons, RAAF, departed as part of a major raid from Waddington, England. Their target was the heavily defended railway yards at Lille in France. Flight Sergeant Johnston was the wireless operator and air gunner with Lancaster “B for Baker”.

While attacking the target the aircraft was hit, and exploded mid-air. Squadron Leader Donald Smith was thrown clear and managed to parachute down safely. He eventually made it back to Britain. The rest of the crew died in the crash. Flight Sergeant Johnston was one of those killed, along with Australians Warrant Officer Royston Purcell and Flight Sergeant Gilbert Pate, and British airmen Flight Sergeant Jeremiah Parker and Sergeants Kenneth Tabor and Eric Hill.

Twelve Lancasters were lost on the raid; 50 airmen were recorded as casualties of the mission.

After the war the remains of Commonwealth servicemen buried in Europe were examined and identified where possible. A convoy sent to Lezennes Cemetery determined that one of two unknown bodies initially found under the plane’s wreckage was that of Flight Sergeant Johnston. He was reburied there under the inscription “Until dawn breaks”.

Flight Sergeant Alastair Johnston’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, along with some 40,000 others from the Second World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Flight Sergeant Alastair Dale Johnston, and all those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.

Christina Zissis
Editor, Military History Section