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Spitfire Biography

SGT Eric Henry Schrader 400135

Embarked Sydney for Canada October 31, 1940. First Row: (400141) Keith Kipling Cox, (402255) Arthur James Sheerin; (400145) Lloyd George Horsfall; (400150) John Milburn Mayall; (402150) Keith Bruce Chisholm (MC, DFM); (402178) Norman Walter Ross Wood; (400146) Robert Arthur Knappett; (400147) Howard Charles Lester - 605/185 Sqns.; J. L. Tully; (404103) Richard Tweedy 'Dick' Holt; (402177) William Allan Wilson. Middle Row: (402152) John Charles Murray Curtis; E. G. Hughes; (402157) John Rodney Henry Elphick; (400163) Clive Newton Wawn - DFC, (2 e/a/ destr.); (402191) John Worrall Roche; (402175) Richard Selkirk Waddy; (402160) Robert Alexander Gray; (400156) Claude Murray Ross; (400157) John Robertson Ross; (402165) Bruce Johnston McLelland; K. N. Murray; D. W. McCormick; Percival Martin Sloan (400158); Justin Hilary O'Bryne (408022) (POW). Back row: (402139) Raymond Shaw; William Jeffrey Metherall; Keith William 'Bluey' Truscott (DFC & Bar, MID); A. P. Stephenson; (400135) Eric Henry Schrader; (402232) William Davies Eccleton; (400142) Edward Anzac Dupleix (DFC); (400166) William Douglas Willis; (400148) Donald Edwin Lewis; (402256) Mark Ernest Sheldon; (402151) James Archer Cormack; (402196) W.L.F. Anderson; G. B. Chapman; (407110) Colin Tolhurst Arthur. Eric is fifth from left, top row.
Squadron/s452 SQN
111 SQN RAF
Rank On Discharge/Death Sergeant (SGT)
Mustering / SpecialisationPilot
Date of Birth09 Oct 1920
Date of Enlistment23 Jun 1940
Date of Death06 Nov 1941
Contributing Author/sPaul Carter
Updated by Vince Conant
September 2013
The Spitfire Association

Eric Schrader was born on the 9th of October 1920 in Melbourne, Victoria, and enlisted on the 23rd of June 1940, also in Melbourne.

On the 31st of October 1940, Schrader embarked from Sydney for Canada as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Schrader joined 452 Squadron in August 1941 after having served with No. 111 Squadron between May and September 1941.

On the 6th of November 1941, the squadron had to work with Kenley Wing (Nos. 602 and 485 Sqns) acting as Tomahawk cover, the C.O. leading the Australians. They took off at 1345hrs and were engaged by six enemy aircraft over Cap Gris Nez. Sergeant Schrader was posted missing after this combat.

Schrader is commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial, United Kingdom.

Despite extensive research, we have scant personal information on Eric but we know he will live on in our collective memory.



Runnymede Memorial, United Kingdom

Learn more about the squadron/s in which Eric 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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