© 2009 454 & 459 RAAF Squadrons

 

459 Squadron RAAF

 

Dessert Air Force

 

Flight Lieutenant Allan Gregory Stormon OAM - MID - Pilot

 

Serial Number 412040

Gambut 1943 - FO Allan Stormon with primus stove,  camp bed and made to order furniture

 

 

Allan Stormon OAM MID served with No 459 Squadron Middle East Command from 12.5.43 to 10.8.44 flying Hudsons and later Baltimore aircraft on maritime search and strike, day and night missions in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas.

 

Allan died  on 17th July,1999.  Trained under the Empire Air Training Scheme in Southern Rhodesia, Sth Africa, and Egypt (at  Gianaclis) je joined 459 Squadron and served at operational bases from Gambut and Benghasi, Cyrenaica and St.Jeans (Palestine), harassing the strong Axis garrisons on Crete and the Aegean Islands which were menacing Middle East oil and essential supplies destined for the British 8th Army and the RAF Desert Air Force via Malta in their relentless drive “From Alamein to the Alps” 1942-45.

 

His regular crew:

FLt. Allan G, Stormon OAM MID, Polit – RAAF

FLt. David S Noble DFC, Navigator – RAF

Warrant Officer ohn Raw, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (WAG) RAF

Warrant Officer Fred Thompson WAG RAF

Summary of RAAF and Post War  Service:

 

1. RAAF
2. 21.6.41 -- ITS Somers Vic
3. 30.1.42 -- EFTS Mt.Hampden S. Rhodesia
4. 29.3.42 -- 23 SFTS Bulawayo, S. Africa
5. 29..3.42 -- 61 Air School George, S. Africa
6. 21.5.43 -- 459 RAAF Sqdn, Gambut, Ramat David (Pal), St.Jeans (Pl)
7. 18.8.44 -- Staff Navigation School, Gianaclis, Egypt Flight Commander, MID Gazetted
8. 26.3.45 -- UK West Kirby, Cole Grange, Chipping Warden
9. 8.1.46 -- Discharged, Australia.

 

Post War: From 1947 purchased newsagency Moruya, NSW. Retired 1984. Very active in community affairs - RSL President/Life Member Moruya sub-branch, Church and Chamber of Commerce.  Sports – active early then administrator, Moruya Aero Club.

 

Awarded OAM 1992 “for service to the community":

 

The photographs show the crew and Allan :in residence”

at Gambut Base in the Western Desert, not far from Tobruk in 1943.

 

Allan Gregory STORMON