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Spitfire Biography

FLGOFF Hector Deeble Aldred 409367

Squadron/s453 SQN
Rank On Discharge/Death Flying Officer (FLGOFF)
Date of Birth24 Nov 1922
Contributing Author/sVince Conant
Spitfire Association 2015

A native of St. Kilda in Victoria, Hector was born on the 24th of November 1922



RAF Station Coltishall, Norfolk, England. Group portrait of 405473 Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) E. A. R. Esau DFC of Brisbane, Qld, CO of No. 453 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF, leaning against prop blade, with his adjutant Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) K. Giles of Sydney, NSW, and pilots of the Squadron after their return from Antwerp at the end of September. Back row, left to right: 419636 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) C. Bundara of Brighton, Vic; 409160 Pilot Officer (PO) R.L. Lyall of Geelong, Vic; 414097 Warrant Officer (WO) N. A. Stewart of Kyogle, NSW; 423776 Flt Sgt J. H. Lynch of Orange, NSW; 409367 PO H. D. Aldred of Bentleigh, Vic; 421019 WO D. C. Johns of Ungary, NSW; 413202 Flying Officer (FO) J. C. Grady of Merriwa, NSW; 421532 FO W. H. Carter of Manly, NSW; 411790 FO C. R. Leith of Sydney, NSW. Front Row: PO C. S. Robertson of Ashfield, NSW; 412427 PO Bruce Fuller of Lidcombe, NSW; 421000 WO R. G. Peters of Armidale, NSW; 410204 FO N. R. Adams of Kerang, Vic; 11862 FO N. J. Marsh of Bendigo, Vic; 401543 FO G. J. Stansfield, Richmond, Vic; Flt Lt Giles; Sqn Ldr Esau; 414189 Flt Lt W. R. Bennett of Brisbane, Qld.
STATION FORD. Informal outdoor portrait of pilots from No. 453 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF using a spare belly tank as a resting place outside their tent at Beach-Head Airstrip, an advance landing ground, B.11, from where they operated over the Normandy battlefield. Identified from left to right: 425139 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Allan William Dowding from Goondiwindi, Queensland; 412513 Warrant Officer (WO) Allan Harold John Harris from Yenda, NSW (killed on flying operations over France on 27 July 1944); 418083 Flt Sgt Ralph Alan Dutneall from Hawthorn East, Victoria (killed on flying operations over France on 27 July 1944); and 409367 WO Hector Deeble Aldred from Bentleigh, Victoria (later Flying Officer).
453 squadron UK 1. Mark Watson 2. Roland Snowdon 3. 'Chiefy' McKinnen 4. Paul Murray 5. Slim Roberts 6. Joe Lawrence 7. Fred Cowpe 8. Joe Boulton 9. Allen Harris 10. 'Doc' Waller 11. Ralph Dutneall 12. Josh Scott 13. Vern Lancaster 14. 'Stoo' 15. Hec Aldred 16. 'Ac' Rice 17. Jack Olver 18. Dick Peters.

Learn more about the squadron/s in which Hector served.

453 SQN

No. 453 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force was formed at Bankstown in New South Wales on 23 May 1941. Formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme, the squadron w...

(Read more about 453 SQN)
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