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RAAF 12 Squadron ![]() ![]() ![]() Stan Gajda 1980 ![]() ![]() Rob Lalumiere 2005 |
Pilot F/L Francis Leonard Sismey, 402764 (KIA) Concord, NSW Crew F/O William Samuel Bell, 417693 (KIA) Bagot Well, SA Crew WOFF Thomas Nathan Rust, 408348 (KIA) Wynyard, TAS Crew WOFF Bernard Leslie Cox, 412402 (KIA) Seven Hills, NSW Crew F/Sgt Leonard Duncanson, 59752 (KIA) Brunswick, VIC Crew F/Sgt Lester Maxwell Bailey, 443477 (KIA) Granville, NSW Crew F/Sgt Ivan Nelson Luke Easton (KIA) Vaucluse, NSW Crew F/Sgt Thomas Walter Allen, 440166 (KIA) Earlwood, NSW Crew F/Sgt Donald Douglas Benson, 435604 (KIA) Mosman, QLD Crew F/Sgt John Austin Hollis, 445226 (KIA) Bondi Beach, NSW Crew F/Sgt John Raymond Wilbur Herps, 440858 (KIA) Gladesville, NSW Crashed May 20, 1945 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 5885. Delivered to the U. S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24M-10-CO Liberator serial number 44-41949. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History During December 1944, assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Liberator A72-160. Assigned to No. 12 Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On May 20, 1945 took off at night from Truscott Airfield piloted by F/L Francis Leonard Sismey on a bombing mission against Balikpapan. After becoming airborne too early due to a hump in the runway, this bomber climbed to 20' and veered to the left and crash just off the northwest end of runway. As fire and rescue crews raced to the crash, the bombs exploded killing everyone aboard. Wreckage The wreckage of this Liberator remains in situ including the ball turret, engines. Stan Gajda adds: Memorials Contribute
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