John was born in Gloucester on the 5th of September 1919 to Herbert and Catherine Muddle.
Working as a Clerk at the Bank of NSW Kurri Kurri, he enlisted at No. 2 Reception Centre, Sydney on the 6th of January 1941 as an Aircrew Gunner. His ‘Next of Kin’ was listed as his father.
John commenced his training as an Aircraftsman at No 2 Initial Training School, Lindfield on the 6th of January 1941 and joined No. 12 Aircrew Training Course on the 3rd of March. Having completed his basic aeronautical training on the 25th of April, John was reclassified as a Leading Aircraftsman on the 26th. He was then sent to No. 2 Embarkation Depot, Bradfield Park on the 24th of May and embarked at Sydney for overseas service on the 13th of June 1941 being attached to the RCAF. He disembarked at Vancouver on the 3rd of July to report to No 2 Air Observer School (AOS) at RCAF Edmonton on 4th of July. Arriving at RCAF Station Trenton 19th of August John was transferred to 6B&GS on the 31st of August.
Mountain View aerodrome opened 23 June 1941 to host No. 6 Bombing and Gunnery School (6 B&GS), one of eleven bombing and gunnery schools that opened across Canada under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during the Second World War. Aircraft used included the Anson, Battle, Lysander, Bolingbroke, and Nomad. John was awarded his Air Gunner’s Brevet on the 29th of September and was promoted to Sergeant (T). Next, he was sent to No. 17 Depot, Halifax on the 1st of October. He was attached to the RAF on the 7th of October when he embarked for the UK. Disembarking on the 19th of October, he reported to 4 Personnel Reception Centre (PRC).
No. 27 Operational Training Unit (OTU) was formed on the 23rd of April 1941 and became the largest unit at RAF Litchfield. Aircrew who arrived here were mainly from the Commonwealth Countries, and particularly Australia. They trained on Wellingtons and formed their crews before going on to their Squadrons or Heavy Conversion Units (HCU) in the case of the four engine bombers. John arrived at 27 OTU for his training on the 5th of November 1941. During his training here he was promoted to Temporary Flight Sergeant on the 29th of March 1942 which was substantiated on the 1st of June.
No 150 Squadron RAF was reformed in 1938 equipped with Fairey Battle light bombers, taking them to France as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force in September 1939. It received heavy losses in attempting to oppose the German invasion of France in May 1940, being evacuated back to England by 20 May.
It re-equipped with Vickers Wellingtons in October 1940, at RAF Newton and moved to RAF Snaith in July 1941 becoming operational with Vickers Wellington 1Cs. John’s first operational tour commenced at Snaith on the 4th of August 1942 when he joined 150 Squadron.
No. 150 Squadron moved again to the Mediterranean Theatre in December 1942, flying its Wellingtons from Blida in Algeria against targets in Tunisia and Sardinia. It moved to Tunisia in May 1943. Having accrued 162 flying hours John was discharged from the ranks on the 3rd of August, promoted to Pilot Officer and posted back to No. 27 OTU where he arrived on the 26th of September to train as an Air Gunner Instructor. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 4th of February 1944. During this time John married. His records show Mrs. P.M. Muddle was of 657 Foleshill Road, Foleshill, Coventry.
As an AG Instructor, John was posted to 1660 Conversion Unit, Swinderby on Sterling Bombers on the 19th of October. In the new year however his John’s personnel reports indicated he was restless as an instructor and was posted to 51 Base on the 30th of January 1944 as a Support Officer.
No. 463 Squadron RAAF came into being on the 25th of November 1943 when a flight of Avro Lancaster heavy bombers and supporting personnel were transferred from another Australian squadron, No. 467 Squadron RAAF. Upon formation, the squadron was established at RAF Waddington, in Lincolnshire, and its first commanding officer was Wing Commander Rollo Kingsford-Smith.
The squadron commenced operations within a day of its formation, with its first mission being a night bombing mission over Berlin. Following its first operation, the squadron received more aircraft and although it was eventually expanded to two flights, it never achieved full strength of three flights. John’s second operational tour was with 463 Squadron, where he arrived on the 18th of March 1944 during the expansion.
For the first part of the squadron’s existence, its operations were mainly focused on night bombing raids over Germany, attacking mainly the industrial areas of Berlin and the Ruhr. Later, as the squadron’s focus shifted to targets in France during the lead up to the Normandy invasion. On the eve of D-Day (6th of June), they attacked German coastal positions overlooking Omaha Beach in support of the Allied landings. Following the successful lodgement, the squadron continued to undertake ground support operations, and began daylight missions. From his many operational missions, one standout was on the 14th of June, a 4.5-hour mission to Aunay-Sur -Odon, which was captained by his CO, Wing Commander Kingsford-Smith.
Having accrued 117 hours on type and with a grand total of 52 missions flown, John was again posted to 1660 CU on the 29th of June. On the 4th of August, he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and was Deputy Gunnery Leader. In the new year he received a ‘Mention in Dispatches (MID)’.
Having amassed a grand total of 687 flying hours, John was posted to 11 Personnel Reception and Dispatch Centre (PRDC), 54 Group, Brighton on the 19th of February 1945 for his return home. On the 9th of March he arrived back at 2 Personnel Depot (PD) in Australia.
John’s RAAF appointment was terminated at his own request on the 5th of July 1945.
For his services, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The citation reads: ‘Flying Officer Muddle has completed many successful operations against the enemy during which he has displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty’.