Rowland Ward - pilot
The pilot was Rowland (Rolly) Telford Ward, age 21, the only son of Edwin and Emily Ward. They lived at 6 Brassie Street, North Bondi, Sydney.
From an early age Rolly had exhibited an easy-going, gregarious nature which made him a popular figure with many boys. Rolly is shown here on the right.
He excelled in sport and was made the captain of his very successful school football team.
On leaving schoool be became a clerk in the Customs Service, though he soon volunteered for the RAAF on 10 October 1942. He was passed fit for aircrew, though at 5' 5" tall, weighing 8st 5lbs he was quite small for a potential bomber pilot. Rolly was issued with a lapel badge to show his membership of the RAAF Aircrew Reserve and told there would be a wait of some months before his call-up.