| Accession Number | RELAWM34748 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Technology |
| Object type | Aircraft component |
| Physical description | Aluminium, Paint |
| Location | Main Bld: World War 2 Gallery: Gallery 2: Air Europe |
| Maker |
Handley Page Ltd |
| Place made | United Kingdom |
| Date made | pre 1943 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Bullet riddled Halifax bomber turret door - Warrant Officer N F Williams, 35 Squadron RAF
Description
Bullet riddled door from the rear turret of a Handley Page Halifax bomber which bombed Dusseldorf on the night of 11/12 June 1943.
History / Summary
Norman Francis Williams was rear gunner in the aircraft and the door is from his turret. For his action in this raid Warrant Officer (WO) N F Williams was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM). He was the most highly decorated Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during the Second World War, having been awarded the CGM, DFM and Bar. He was born on 3 November 1914 in Leeton, NSW and he joined the RAAF on 24 May 1941. He left the RAAF at the rank of Flight Lieutenant on 4 May 1948.
The door was collected by the RAAF towards the end of the war to preserve their history, and was transferred to the Australian War Memorial by 1948.