Layton Marshall King

Layton Marshall King service number 42756, enlisted into the Royal Australian Air force in Melbourne on 15th January 1942. Prior to enlistment spent time with the 26th Machine Gun Regiment Militia. Because of his Diploma of motor engineering he saw a ranking of flight engineer or sergeant. 

Military service sent him to various theatres of war such as Morotai, New Guinea, Borneo, Bougainville, Balikpapan and elsewhere.

 Following on from returning from a mission where the squadron had been overran and decimated by the Japanese. Layton and 6 other airman trekked for three days through rough jungle terrain to an American airbase.  Due to his ranking and qualification he was seconded to the American 307th  Heavy Bombing Group.  This group were involved in long range bombing missions through the Pacific theatre of war.  The aircraft used within this group consisted primarily of B25 Liberators of which he was a flight engineer.  It was with this group Layton concluded his active duty with following the surrender of Japan.

Layton King served with the following squadrons:

·      Training groups at Deniliquin.

·      22 Sqn Beaufighters and support aircraft.

·      54th Troop Carrier Wing nicknamed the (biscuit bombers) primarily troop supply and equipment.

·      5th Sqn

·      307th American Army Airforce long range heavy bomber group – bombing missions mainly long distance and repatriation of allied prisoners of war following ceasing of hostilities.

Discharged from Airforce 11th March 1946.