Over 6,000 RAAF personnel were trained at 1 W.A.G.S Ballarat during WW2. Approximately 20% of the trainees died in action or on active service.
No. 1 Wireless Air Gunnery School [W.A.G.S] Ballarat was established on the 22nd April 1940 as part of the Empire Training Scheme. This scheme was to support RAF Bomber Command during WW2.
There were 58 Wireless Air Gunner Courses and 12 Navigator Courses conducted from 1940 to 1945.
The MEMORIAL ROLL commemorates to date 1,182 RAAF 1 W.A.G.S. trainees who were killed in action or on active service during WW2.
Fight Sergeant Dennis Leslie BAULDERSTONE 416112 .Courses 13 and 15
Flight Sergeant Baulderstone was aboard the Avro Anson AW878 when it crashed at Lady Julia Percy Island off Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia.
The aircraft had set off on a navigation sortie from its Mt Gambier base. He, together with 3 other crew members, were killed.
He was 22 years old.
The FEATURED STORY pays tribute to a person, and or event, connected to 1 W.A.G.S Ballarat.
The story commemorates the valiant RAAF 1 W.A.G.S trainees who served in WW2 in all theatres of war – those who lost their lives and those who returned.
The FEATURED STORY honours -
The twelve month anniversary of the launch of 1 W.A.G.S Memorial Website. We thank the families and other dedicated military sites for their generous contributions and the thousands of browsers from all over the world who have visited the site.
We pay tribute to-
WARRANT OFFICER TOM HODGE RUNNALLS
W/Off Tom Runnalls crewed on Catalina Flying Boats with No. 20 Sqn. in Cairns and No. 43 Sqn in Darwin. The Catalina Flying Boats were involved in mine laying operations and played a significant role in halting the advance of the Japanese in the South West Pacific.
Warrant Officer Tom Runnalls was the guest at the launch of the 1 W.A.G.S Memorial Website on the 11th February 2020. At the age of 95 he represented all 1 W.A.G.S trainees who served in the RAAF during WW2. Those who made the ultimate sacrifice and those who returned to their families. Nineteen of the ninety-two trainees in Tom’s Course 32 were killed.
