Branch of Service

Air Force

Conflict

World War II (1939-1945)

Date of Enlistment

09/10/1942

Date of Discharge

14/11/1945

Place of Enlistment

Melbourne, Victoria

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

13/12/1914

Place of Birth

Sydney NSW

Address (at enlistment)

Caulfield, Victoria (later Concord NSW)

School(s) Attended

Petersham High School (Sydney), Telopea Park School ( -1931)

Occupation

Bank teller

Next of Kin

Arthur Blakeley (father), Caulfield, Victoria and later his wife, Edyth Blakeley of Concord NSW

Service Number

419908

Final Rank

Flying Officer

Final Unit

1663 Communications Unit

Distinguished Flying Cross (promulgated in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 11 October 1945)

Blakeley was the son of Arthur Blakeley, Minister for Home Affairs in the Scullin government (1929-1932). The family moved to Canberra in 1929 because his father had responsibility for the national capital. He attended Telopea Park School and after completing his schooling joined the Commonwealth Bank in Canberra. At enlistment in 1942 he was a bank teller in Melbourne.

Blakeley trained as a bomb aimer in Sydney and then in Edmonton, Canada during 1943. He joined 466 Squadron in September 1944 and was the bomb aimer in a Halifax bomber flying out of RAF Driffield in Yorkshire which was nicknamed 'The Kelly Gang Rides Again'. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his "utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty" in numerous operations over Europe. He returned to Australia in July 1945.

Description - height 5 feet 7.5 inches, weight 144 pounds, fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair, Church of England.

WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
AWM Honours & Awards
NAA RecordSearch - Series A9300 (RAAF Officers Personnel files, 1921-1948)
The Canberra Times - 12 January 1932, 11 October 1945