WWII Roll of Honour,
HistoryNT,
Second World War, 1939-1945,
Date
2021,
Place of birth
Adelaide (S.A.),
Date of birth
1914-03-27,
Place of enlistment
Adelaide (S.A.),
Date of enlistment
1940-11-26,
Nation of service
Australia,
Service
Royal Australian Air Force,
Unit
RAAF Base Darwin,
Rank
Leading Aircraftman,
Service number
28222,
Next of kin
Anna Louise Schulz - Mother,
Date of death
1942-02-19,
Place of death
RAAF Station Darwin,
Place of burial
Adelaide River War Cemetery, G.B.13,
Memorial
Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance,
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour,
Bute District Council WW2 Roll of Honor,
Cultural heritage
Australian,
Biographical notes
Leading Aircraftman Albert Victor Leske Schulz (28222) was born on 27 March 1914 in Adelaide, to Nathanael Reginald Robert and Anna Louise Schulz of South Hummocks, South Australia.
Schulz spoke German fluently and worked for B. Seppelt & Sons during the 1939-1940 vintage. He had over three years experience as a houseman, his experience in table waiting helping him gain a position as Mess Steward with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).,
History
Enlisted in Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) on 26 November 1940 in Adelaide. He was serving as Mess Steward at RAAF Station Darwin when Darwin was bombed on 19 February 1942.
The only aerial defence during the bombing was provided by a squadron of Kittyhawks from the 33rd Pursuit Squadron USAAF. Led by Major Floyd Pell, the Kittyhawks had just arrived back in Darwin after turning back from a flight to Koepang because of bad weather. Four pilots, including Major Pell, were killed as they fought bravely against the overwhelming number of Japanese Zeros.
Seven RAAF Station personnel also died on the ground, including Leading Aircraftman Schulz. He was twenty-seven years old.
An enemy bomb exploded only a short distance from Schulz as he sheltered in the bush, killing him instantly. Schulz's mother was not informed of his death until 25 March 1942, as authorities were unable to identify his body. Careful examination of articles found with his body, a pocket handkerchief bearing the initials 'A.V. Schulz' and a sandshoe with traces of his service number, finally led to his identification.
Aircraftman 1 Henry Armstead (37012) reported that Schulz was a recent arrival to Darwin and during the raid 'was hit almost direct by a 'daisy cutter' and killed outright. For some time there was doubt as to his identity, but he was buried as Schulz and his grave was marked. He was quite a popular chap with everybody he met.' (Source: Schulz's Service Record)
Each year on 19 February for many years following his death, Albert Schulz was remembered by his parents and siblings, Grace, Wally and Emily, grandmother and aunties, and by his friends, Amy and Harry, in The Advertiser (South Australia).,