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| RAAF 2 OTU Former Assignments No. 76 Squadron No. 77 Squadron  Watson October 1942 |
Pilot Sgt John Geoffrey Norman Gadsden, 418828 (survived) Toorak, VIC Crashed June 27, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40E-1-CU Warhawk serial number 41-36104. Assigned Royal Air Force (RAF) serial number ET750. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia. Wartime History During May 1942 delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as P-40E Kittyhawk serial number A29-113. Assigned to No. 77 Squadron. Coded "U". No known nickname. The left side of the nose cowling was the nose art of four flags on flagpoles: RAAF ensign, Australian flag, Union Jack flag and American flag (with tassel). In September 1942 began operating from Livingstone Field (34 Mile) near Darwin. On November 24, 1942 in the early morning took off from Livingstone Field (34 Mile) piloted by S/Ldr Richard "Dick" Cresswell to patrol over the Darwin area. While patrolling, he observed a "V" formation of three Japanese G4M1 Bettys at 22,500'. At 3:39am he engaged G4M1 Betty 5414 Tail T-359 and after a brief combat, set fire to the right engine of causing it to crash in flames near Koopinyah Station to the east of Darwin. This action was the first time an enemy aircraft was shot down over the Australian mainland at nighttime; and the first to be shot down over the Australian mainland by a member of the RAAF. On March 13, 1943 assigned to No. 76 Squadron. On May 9, 1943 received by No 2 Operational Training Unit (2 OTU) at Mildura Airfield. Mission History On June 27, 1943 took off from Mildura Airfield piloted by Sgt John G. N. Gadsden on a training mission. While flying at 18,000', a fuel line broke causing this aircraft to crash near Mildura. The pilot attempted a forced landing, but was forced to bail out due to a fire in the cockpit which eventually caused the aircraft to explode. Fate of Pilots Sgt Gadsden was later promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer (P/O). On October 25, 1944 killed in the crash of Wirraway A20-613 and was buried at the Mildura Public Cemetery (grave C.B.16). S/Ldr Cresswell survived the Second World War and also flew with No. 77 Squadron during the Korean War. He was discharged from the RAAF in 1957 with the rank of Wing Commander (W/Cdr). P-40E Warhawk 41-35984 is painted in the markings of this aircraft while assigned to S/Ldr Cresswell at Darwin. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-40E-1 Warhawk 41-36104 "36104 (MSN 18625, ET750) to RAAF as A29-113 May 1942" ADF Serials - Kittyhawk A29-113 World War 2 Nominal Roll - Richard Cresswell, O383 World War 2 Nominal Roll - John Geoffrey Norman Gadsden, 418828 Thanks to Daniel Leahy for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated October 25, 2024 |
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