SGT  ATHOL LOUIS OPAS SERVICE NUMBER 400354

From Album 1 chapter 1 of our Official Squadron Albums webpage

The Australian War Memorial (AWM) has a digital collection of some of Athol's letters, correspondence, photographs and his flying log book. 

Thanks to the Association's committee member (Chris) who wrote an outline of his story: Athol’s father, Joseph, signed his joining papers. Athol’s personnel file says his religion was Jewish, that he attended Melbourne High School, and that he was employed as a leather worker before enlisting.

We welcome the family to Contact us to add more content to this/his webpage  

From his 41-page Personnel File we can see his postings:

Athol took part in 458’s very first  operation against Germany on 20-Oct-1941. He was a front gunner. From page 8 of 'We Find And Destroy' (the book of the Official History of the Squadron):

From the 458 Unit History, pages 15, 17, 20, 40:

20, 22, 29-Oct-1941, 27-Dec-1941, 7-Jan-1942 based at Home -on-Spalding Moor.

Then the decision was made and orders given on 14-Feb-1942 to move 458 to the Middle East (page 21 of We Find And Destroy 2002 edition)

Aircrews, having ferried their Wellingtons to Egypt, returned to Britain via a number of stops, including Lagos, Nigeria. Athol and other 458ers enjoying the beach.

At just 21 years of age, Athol was killed in action while on detachment with 108 Squadron RAF on 12 Aug 1942. The detachment is described on page 63 of 'We Find And Destroy' 2002 edition, 108 Sqn RAF having formed at Kabrit, Egypt. It had Wellingtons, and prior to that, Liberators.

From 108 Squadron RAF Unit History:

He is remembered with honour at the Commonwealth War Grave, Alamein Memorial, El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt. And we honour him now. A Jewish eulogy: “May Athol’s memory be a blessing for all”.Lest We Forget.

Postscript: Athol would be proud of his sister and brother and their authorship.

Dorothy Opas aka Dvora Waysman. And Philip Opas who served in the RAAF in Papua New Guinea.          These photos and the link to the AWM collection come courtesy of Catherine Owen. Catherine's grandmother's cousin, David Maitland Watts 'Tony' was in the same crew with Athol.