Bates enlisted on December the 12th, 1941, at Sydney. On the 21st of Jan 1943, he was involved in the collision of two Wirraways over Koorlong. Three pilots, pilot officer Geoff Taaffe, Sergeant John Ryan and Sergeant Bates were killed and one instructor survived.

Acknowledgement – Bates Family (The exhibit is pen and ink art-work by his father Lionel Bates.)