The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
1939-45 Star. Engraved reverse with recipient's details.
624 Flying Officer William Vyner Duckett White enlisted in the RAAF in January 1940, and qualified as a pilot. He was posted to 2 Squadron, RAAF, in Darwin, in August 1940, flying Hudson aircraft. In December 1941 the squadron moved to Ambon. From their base at Laha the squadron flew continuously against the advancing Japanese forces. By late January 1942 the invasion force was closing in on the island. Most members of 2 Squadron managed to escape but White chose to stay in an attempt to repair his plane, damaged by repeated Japanese attacks, so that he could fly out as many remaining ground staff as he could. This proved impossible and White, the commanding officer, Scott, and ten ground staff made their way north over the mountainous centre of Ambon. They were escaping by canoe when they were captured by the Japanese. After interrogation they were executed at Laha, together with B Company 2/21 Battalion and some other troops, between 17 and 20 February 1942, a total of 234 men. White was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for 'skill and daring... whilst flying against the enemy...[an] epic story of courage, determination, skill and devotion to duty'.
This medal is a posthumous late issue claimed by White's family in 1988.
Australia Service Medal. Engraved around edge with recipient's details. 624 Flying Officer William Vyner Duckett White enlisted in the RAAF in January 1940, and qualified as a pilot. He was posted
British War Medal 1939-45. Engraved around edge with recipient's details. 624 Flying Officer William Vyner Duckett White enlisted in the RAAF in January 1940, and qualified as a pilot. He was posted
Distinguished Flying Cross. Engraved reverse lower arm '1942'. 624 Flying Officer William Vyner Duckett White enlisted in the RAAF in January 1940, and qualified as a pilot. He was posted to 2 Squad
RAAF AIR CADET TRAINEES ON PARADE. 260624 FLYING OFFICER (LATER FLIGHT LIEUTENANT) WILLIAM VYNER DUCKETT WHITE (LATER DFC, EXECUTED BY THE JAPANESE AT AMBON 1942-02) IS IN THE FRONT ROW FOURTH FROM TH
GROUP PORTRAIT OF RAAF AIR CADET FLYING COURSE TRAINEES. 260624 FLYING OFFICER (LATER FLIGHT LIEUTENANT) WILLIAM VYNER DUCKETT WHITE (LATER DFC, EXECUTED BY THE JAPANESE AT AMBON 1942-02) IS IN THE FR
Group portrait of Pilots on No. 8 Navigation Reconnaissance Course, RAAF held at Laverton, Victoria, Australia between 13 May 1940 and 12 August 1940. Left to right: back row: 260624 Pilot Officer (P
GROUP PORTRAIT OF CAPTAINS OF AIRCRAFT OF SQUADRON LEADER J. P. RYLAND'S `A' FLIGHT, NO. 2 SQUADRON, RAAF, IN FRONT OF A LOCKHEED HUDSON AIRCRAFT. LEFT TO RIGHT: FLYING OFFICER (FO) ROBERT LAW-SMITH (
Pacific Star. Engraved reverse with recipient's details. 624 Flying Officer William Vyner Duckett White enlisted in the RAAF in January 1940, and qualified as a pilot. He was posted to 2 Squadron, R
COMMEMORATIVE SCROLL AND FLY LEAF RELATED TO THE DEATH OF F/LT WHITE AT LAHA, AMBON. F/LT WHITE WAS EXECUTED BY THE JAPANESE FOLLOWING HIS CAPTURE ATTEMPTING TO ESCAPE BY BOAT FROM AMBON
Pacific Star. Engraved reverse with recipient's details. 624 Flying Officer William Vyner Duckett White enlisted in the RAAF in January 1940, and qualified as a pilot. He was posted to 2 Squadron, R
British War Medal 1939-45. Engraved around edge with recipient's details. 624 Flying Officer William Vyner Duckett White enlisted in the RAAF in January 1940, and qualified as a pilot. He was posted
Australia Service Medal. Engraved around edge with recipient's details. 624 Flying Officer William Vyner Duckett White enlisted in the RAAF in January 1940, and qualified as a pilot. He was posted
Distinguished Flying Cross. Engraved reverse lower arm '1942'. 624 Flying Officer William Vyner Duckett White enlisted in the RAAF in January 1940, and qualified as a pilot. He was posted to 2 Squad
1939-45 Star. Engraved reverse with recipient's details. 407318 Sergeant (later Flying Officer) Leonard Alexander 'Toppy' Einsaar was born in New South Wales in 1913. He served as a policeman in the
1939-45 Star. Pantograph engraved reverse with recipient's details. Post-war re-issue. Bert Augustus 'Mick' Grace was born was born in Sydney, New South Wales in 1912. He was employed as a company d
