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Spitfire Biography

FLTLT Ian Arthur Lane Milne 407078

Squadron/s245 SQN RAF
452 SQN
Rank On Discharge/Death Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT)
Mustering / SpecialisationPilot
Date of Birth04 Aug 1915
Date of Enlistment27 May 1940
Contributing Author/sPaul Carter
Updated by Vince Conant
July 2013
The Spitfire Association


Ian Arthur Lane Milne was born on the 4 August, 1915 at Wirrabara, South Australia, and enlisted on the 27 May, 1940 in Adelaide.

Ian Milne was an Australian from South Australia and had served with No. 245 between February and April 1941 before joining the Squadron.

On 1410h, 20 September, 1941, led by S/L Robert Bungey, Milne was one of twelve Spitfires that took off for Circus 100B accompanied by Nos. 602 and 485 (N.Z.) Sqn. to escort Blenheims. On reaching the French coast a large number of enemy aircraft were seen and combat commenced. Milne was posted missing from this engagement later reported P.O.W. at Stalag 357.



History of this flag (possibly a car pennant) is unknown. It has written on it 'Stalag 357' which was located at Fallingbostel in the north of Germany and indicates that both men who signed it were prisoners there. It is possible the flag was a souvenir of their liberation, or something they kept hidden through their captivity. One of the men to sign the flag was 407078 Flight Lieutenant Ian Arthur Lace Milne, from Wirrabara, South Australia. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on 27 May 1940 aged 25. He was serving with 452 Squadron when he was captured and became a German prisoner. He was discharged from the RAAF on 4 October 1945. The other signatory, Ian Hardie of 104 Squadron, is not recorded on the Australian nominal roll.

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

452 SQN

No. 452 Squadron RAAF was the first Australian squadron formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) in Britain during the Second World War. Its first person...

(Read more about 452 SQN)
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