Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 402364
Mustering: Pilot
Born: 20 February 1915—Narromine, NSW
Deceased: 28 March 1944 — Brux (Most) Czech Republic (at the hands of the Gestapo)
Enlisted: 1940
Enlistment Place: Sydney, NSW​
Posting on Death: No. 450 Squadron​ RAAF
Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Posthumous Award: Mention in Despatches (MID) awarded on 8 June 1944

 _____________________________ 

'Rusty's Story'—

In November 1940 Reginald 'Rusty' Kierath embarked at Sydney for overseas service, proceeding to Rhodesia to begin his pilot training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.  'Rusty' began his pilot training in December 1940 gaining his 'wings' in April 1941.

In June 1941 he arrived in the Middle East and was posted to No.71 Operational Training Unit at Ismailia, Egypt where he trained on Hawker Hurricane aircraft. In July 1941 due to inexperience with the aircraft he ditched into Lake Timsah (on the Suez Canal), and suffered scull and facial injuries which were not serious. 

In August 1941, Sgt. Kierath received his first combat posting to No.33 Squadron RAF. He was lucky to escape death on two occasions in September 1941, when on 7 September he was ground strafed by enemy fighters while taking off from Sidi Haneish and his Hurricane burnt out.

On 9 September, while on a fleet patrol, the squadron was bounced by Bf 109s and his aircraft was holed in the port wing by a cannon shell, wounding him with shrapnel. 

In December 1941 he was posted to No.450 Squadron RAAF which was in the process of forming up as a new fighter squadron. Although he was operationally tired, F/Sgt. 'Rusty' Kierath was one of a number of experienced Australian pilots alongside pilots with no combat experience, to support the Commanding Officer, SL Steege, to prepare the squadron as a fighting unit. Having only flown Hurricane fighters on operations 'Rusty' was now required to convert to the new P-40 Kittyhawk which was being introduced to desert operations. 

F/Sgt. Kierath was on probation for commissioning as an officer from January 1942. This probation was extended for his first tour with 450 Squadron RAAF.  In April 1942 he was released as an airman and granted a commission as a Pilot Officer, effective May 1942.
After completing his first tour of operations with 450 Squadron on 24 May 1942, 'Rusty' was posted out for a 'rest', returning to Rhodesia and training new pilots in Harvards and Tiger Moths.

In 1943 he was promoted to Flying Office, which was backdated to July 1942.

On 15 April 1943, Pilot Officer Kierath rejoined 450 Squadron at El Djem, Tunisia for his second tour of operations. This was to be short lived, however, as on 23 April, while on a 239 Wing sweep to Cap Bon, his Kittyhawk was hit by anti-aircraft fire, damaging his engine. He was forced to bale out over the Mediterranean Sea and was rescued by a German rescue launch and captured, becoming a POW in Stalag Luft III at Sagan, Poland. At Stalag Luft III he became head carpenter in the camp and helped to create fake walls in order to hide forged documents, compasses and other material vital to the 

'Great Escape'. 

During his incarceration Rusty was promoted to F/Lt.

On 28 March 1944 after a daring escape from Stalag Luft III, Rusty and three other airmen were taken to the city of Brux, which is now known as Most, in the Czech Republic, and shot by the Gestapo. His body was cremated in the local crematorium on the following day, 

29 March 1944.

Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 40652
Mustering: Pilot
Born: 6 May 1919—Wellington, NZ

(to Australian parents)
Deceased: 28 March 1944 — Brux (Most) Czech Republic (at the hands of the Gestapo)
Enlisted: 1938​
Enlistment Place: UK​
Posting on Death: No. 450 Squadron​ RAAF
Rank: Squadron Leader
WWII Honours and Gallantry: Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) as published in the London Gazette 16 March 1943 
Posthumous Award: Mention in Despatches (MID) awarded on 8 June 1944

______________________________

'Willy's Story' —

John Williams, known as 'Willy' Williams was born to Australian parents in Wellington, New Zealand on 6 May 1919. Williams joined the RAF as a Pilot Officer in the UK on a short service commission in 1938. He did his flying training at Central Flying School at RAF Station Little Rissington, and at No’s 9, 13 and 10 Flying Training Schools, United Kingdom.

In August 1939 Williams was promoted to Acting Flight Lieutenant, relinquishing the rank on in October 1939, and was made a substantive Flying Officer in August 1940.

September 1940 saw Flying Officer Williams posted to No.21 Service Flying Training School at Kumalo, Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia as a flying instructor. In August 1941 he was made a war substantive Flight Lieutenant.'Willy' Williams was then posted to No.71 Operational Training Unit in January 1942 where he flew Hurricane and Tomahawk aircraft in training.

In April 1942, Flight Lieutenant Williams received his first combat posting when he joined No.112 Squadron RAF, part of the Western Desert Air Force (WDAF) flying P-40 Kittyhawks. He joined No.94 Squadron RAF, and in May 1942, he joined No.260 Squadron RAF. Although he remained an RAF officer, Flight Lieutenant Williams was finally posted to No.450 Squadron RAAF at Gambut, Libya in June 1942. He was appointed 'B' Flight Commander. A few days later the squadron was forced to evacuate Gambut and retreat eastwards.

'Willy' Williams scored his first victory in June 1942 when he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 near Gambut and this was followed with a Junkers Ju 88 near El Daba, Egypt in July. His final total was four enemy aircraft destroyed and two aircraft damaged. He is thought to have claimed an Italian Cr.42 biplane fighter whilst in 260 Squadron RAF, which if verified, would make him an ‘ace’.

'Willy' often flew Kittyhawks with the code OK-M which carried nose art depicting the cartoon character Mandrake the magician holding a lighted cannon ball. This was designed by one of the ground staff, Bob McKinney.

Flight Lieutenant "Willy" Williams was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for courage, determination and devotion to duty. This was published in the London Gazette on 16 March 1943 and awarded with effect from 23 September 1942.

During the second Battle of El Alamein, Kittyhawks played an important role, carrying out many escort and ground attack sorties. In October 1942, ‘Willy’ was promoted to Acting Squadron Leader and was appointed Commanding Officer of No.450 Squadron RAAF, replacing SL Ferguson.

On 31 October 1942, while strafing an Axis road convoy near Buq Buq, Williams’ Kittyhawk was shot down, when he accidentally flew into the line of gunfire from another member of the squadron (Sgt. M.C. Harrison RAAF, his No.2). He force-landed and was seen to get out of his Kittyhawk safely. The ground was too rough for aircraft to effect an immediate rescue and he was reported as missing in action. Sadly, Sgt. Max Harrison was killed in action on 14 January 1943 when shot down by Axis fighters during a bomber escort to Bir Dufan LG, Libya.

John ‘Willy’ Williams was captured on 1 November 1942 and taken to Stalag Luft III, where he was to remain until 1944. ‘Willy’ played a major role in the plotting and orchestration of the audacious escape; often sporting his threadbare shorts and sandals. 

As chief supply officer, he was in charge of ‘scrounging’ the four thousand or so bed boards used to shore up the 10 metre deep, 111 metre long escape tunnel and a myriad of other materials; all without the guards realizing that anything was missing. Rusty worked closely with him. According to fellow POW Jimmy James, Willy had also been outside the camp ‘on walks’, having used his school boy German to befriend the guards and talk his way onto work detail to a firsthand look at the forest. His expertise was an important element in what was to become a successful breakout…

On 28 March 1944 after a daring escape from Stalag Luft III, "Willy" and three other airmen were taken to the city of Brux, which is now known as Most, in the Czech Republic, and shot by the Gestapo. His body was cremated in the local crematorium on the following day, 

29 March 1944.