The Airmen's Stories - P/O F W CALE

Francis Walter Cale, from Milford Junction, Perth, Western Australia was born on 24th February 1915, the son of Walter and Constance Cale. He was one of five children.

Cale attended Guildford Grammar School where he excelled in athletics. He was later employed by an oil company and engaged in studying law and accountancy.

He learnt to fly at Maylands aerodrome and reputedly would fly over the Dunrees Golf Course and buzz his sisters as they played.

While at Guildford Grammar School he joined the school cadet corps and, as an adult, served a year with an artillery unit with the Citizen Military Forces.

Cale was provisionally accepted by an RAAF Board for an RAF short service commission and sailed for England aboard the ss Ormonde on 31st January 1939.

With his elementary flying successfully completed, Cale was granted his commission in May 1939.

After completing his flying training, he joined 266 Squadron at Sutton Bridge in early November.

In July 1940 he married Muriel Joan Perry, also from Western Australia, at Paddington.

On August 15th 1940 Cale was shot down by Me109s over Maidstone. He baled out but landed in the River Medway, his body being recovered from the river the following day. His Spitfire, N3168, crashed in flames on the bank of the Medway at Teston.

Cale was 25.

He is buried in Westminster City Cemetery, Ealing, close to his wife's home.

Additional research courtesy of Kings Park, Western Australia.

Below: there is also a plaque at Teston War Memorial.

Above image courtesy of Geoffrey Gillon.

Above: a memorial plaque at Kings Park WA.