Danish born servicemen in the Royal Australian Air Force
Article
About three years ago I carried out a search on the World War 2 Nominal Roll website (of Australia) finding 38 individuals born in Denmark who served in the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War. Ever since I have been researching these individuals trying to find out how many of these who were in fact still Danish when the enlisted in the Australian forces.
As Australia is a country of immigrants it is no surprise to find a number of people in the RAAF who were born in Denmark. Many people emigrated to Australia in the 1800s and early 1900s not only from Denmark, but from all over the world. Of course some of the emigrants served in the armed forces during the war.
One of the reasons that I have taken a particular interest in these individuals is that they are not mentioned in the regular lists of Danish volunteers focusing primarily on the European theatre and the Danes in Norwegian service.
Below I have listed the 38 individuals with an indication of the status of the individuals. If nothing is indicated, this does not necessarily mean that they were Danish, but only that I have no actual information of the contrary.
Pilots or aircrew- Douglas Svend Fletcher, RAAF (439309) *
- Svend Aage Nielsen, RAAF (270820) *
- Laurits William Staal, RAAF (405086) *
Groundcrew and administrative staff- Ernest George Bruhn, RAAF (58681)
- Mylius Erik Ulstrup Christiansen, RAAF (134632) *
- Aage Ejvind Christensen, RAAF (37897)
- Terkel Trap Friis, RAAF (77089) *
- William Olof Grut, RAAF (118475) **
- Hans Max Bruno Thomsen, RAAF (82287)
- Marius Byrge Hanneval Haagensen, RAAF (17652) *
- Anders Krogh Jensen, RAAF (18042) *
- Anton George Jensen, RAAF (81890)
- Mogens Bruun Jensen, RAAF (83876)
- Christian Pfeil Jespersen, RAAF (52835)
- Carl Victor Johannes Jonasson, RAAF (23193) *
- Bent Knudsen, RAAF (133186)
- Carl Wilhelm Kaarsberg, RAAF (78372) *
- Frank Bertel Lilliendal, RAAF (43086) *
- Johan Albert Ejdvin Lundh, RAAF (77928) *
- Peter Michell, RAAF (445513)
- Niels Rasmus Mikkelsen, RAAF (117019)
- Henry Charles Emil Miller, RAAF (40181) *
- Christian Ezner Severin Møller, RAAF (70816)
- Eric Nielsen, RAAF (A1469 (170907)) *
- Thorvald Nørhede, RAAF (146527)
- Laurits Peder Christian Olesen, RAAF (18354)
- Henry Overgaard, RAAF (74220)
- Axel Gade Petersen, RAAF (73165) (*)
- Christian Frederick Edward Petersen, RAAF (116279)
- Christian Axel Henry Petersen, RAAF (122068)
- Eric Gade Petersen, RAAF (423879) (*)
- Henrik Rasmussen, RAAF (158569)
- John Mikael Steffensen, RAAF (115885) *
- John George Ulrik, RAAF (449122) *
- Carl Mehrens Larsen Winge, RAAF (65269)
Danish women in WAAF
- Ernest George Bruhn, RAAF (58681)
- Mylius Erik Ulstrup Christiansen, RAAF (134632) *
- Aage Ejvind Christensen, RAAF (37897)
- Terkel Trap Friis, RAAF (77089) *
- William Olof Grut, RAAF (118475) **
- Hans Max Bruno Thomsen, RAAF (82287)
- Marius Byrge Hanneval Haagensen, RAAF (17652) *
- Anders Krogh Jensen, RAAF (18042) *
- Anton George Jensen, RAAF (81890)
- Mogens Bruun Jensen, RAAF (83876)
- Christian Pfeil Jespersen, RAAF (52835)
- Carl Victor Johannes Jonasson, RAAF (23193) *
- Bent Knudsen, RAAF (133186)
- Carl Wilhelm Kaarsberg, RAAF (78372) *
- Frank Bertel Lilliendal, RAAF (43086) *
- Johan Albert Ejdvin Lundh, RAAF (77928) *
- Peter Michell, RAAF (445513)
- Niels Rasmus Mikkelsen, RAAF (117019)
- Henry Charles Emil Miller, RAAF (40181) *
- Christian Ezner Severin Møller, RAAF (70816)
- Eric Nielsen, RAAF (A1469 (170907)) *
- Thorvald Nørhede, RAAF (146527)
- Laurits Peder Christian Olesen, RAAF (18354)
- Henry Overgaard, RAAF (74220)
- Axel Gade Petersen, RAAF (73165) (*)
- Christian Frederick Edward Petersen, RAAF (116279)
- Christian Axel Henry Petersen, RAAF (122068)
- Eric Gade Petersen, RAAF (423879) (*)
- Henrik Rasmussen, RAAF (158569)
- John Mikael Steffensen, RAAF (115885) *
- John George Ulrik, RAAF (449122) *
- Carl Mehrens Larsen Winge, RAAF (65269)
Danish women in WAAF
* indicates that the person was British subject or naturalised as British subject before enlisting; (*) that this is the presumption.
** indicate that the person was not Danish citizen by birth.