WOFF Bruce Miels 442430
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| Squadron/s | 457 SQN |
| Rank On Discharge/Death | Warrant Officer (WOFF) |
| Mustering / Specialisation | Pilot |
| Date of Birth | 18 Jan 1921 |
| Date of Enlistment | 17 Jul 1943 |
| Contributing Author/s | David Hamilton Phil Listemann (Author of "The History of 457 Squadron") Updated by Vince Conant July 2013 The Spitfire Association |
Bruce was born on the 18/1/1921 in Keswick, SA and enlisted on the 17/7/1943. After qualifying as pilot fighters he was moved to a Spitfire Squadron.
He served in No 457 Squadron from 1944 to 1945 and was discharged 15/1/1946.
Bruce was assessed as a competent pilot with leadership qualities as befits his rank of Flight Sergeant. He flew ZP-B and the only record now is of a collision with a Liberator bomber on landing.
A58-611 HF.VIII MT829 Arrived in Australia on SS Chanda 12/09/44. Rec 3AD ex UK 16/09/44. Rec 457 Sqn RAAF and coded ZP-B 15/12/44. Accident 19/04/45 when the aircraft landed from a patrol at North Strip at Pitoe when on taxiing back to the squadron bays, suffered a port main blowout at 10-15 miles per hour and collided with a RAAF B-24 (A72-78) despite selecting wheels up to halt his speed. Damage to both aircraft. Pilot, Sgt B Miels Serv#442430 was not injured. Rec 1 RSU 01/11/45. Converted to Components 11/01/46.
