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| RAAF No. 11 Squadron  Lynch 1941  Marc Montocchio 2001 |
1st Pilot Squadron Leader Thomas H. Davies, 163 (KIA, BR) Waverley, NSW 2nd Pilot Pilot Officer Russel Gentworth Hender, 406105 (MIA / KIA) North Perth, WA 1st Engineer Cpl Harry Wilmot Hornby, 7118 (MIA / KIA) Merredin, WA 2nd Engineer LAC Lesile Hoare, 20549 (MIA / KIA) Strathfield, NS W 1st Wireless LAC Frederick Henry Anthony, 11085 (MIA / KIA) West Brunswick, VIC 2nd Wireless LAC Brian Charles James Wilcox, 8137 (MIA / KIA) Exeter, SA Armorer LAC John Henry Marks, 33898 (KIA, BR) Fassifern, NSW Rigger LAC Charles Ogilvie, 32081 (MIA / KIA) Edgecliff, NSW Crashed January 15, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated as PBY-5 Catalina. Constructors Number 279. U.S. Navy (USN) bureau number unknown. On September 9, 1941 delivered to Qantas Empire Airways (QEA) and registered in Australia as VH-AFL. Wartime History On October 26, 1941 assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as PBY-5 Catalina serial number A24-11. Assigned to No. 11 Squadron with tail code J. No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On January 15, 1942 took off from Simpson Harbor at Rabaul piloted by Squadron Leader Thomas H. Davies armed with bombs with Catlaina A24-13 on a bombing mission against the Japanese at Truk Lagoon. The pair first flew to Kavieng Harbor off Kavieng and landed then taxied to refuel off Nusu Island then would take off again bound for the target. During take off from from Nusa Harbor, hit by a large swell that detonated the wing bombs. The explosion caused the flying boat to immediately sink killing the entire crew. Afterwards, pilot Davies was mentioned in dispatches. Search Above, Catalina A24-13 piloted by Lt. Hutchinson, a pilot on loan from the U.S. Navy, witnessed the accident and immediately landed nearby and attempted to rescue any survivors. However, the aircraft sank in deep water and no survivors were found. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Buried at Bita Paka War Cemetery (Rabaul) are Davies at B. C. 8 and Marks B. C. 9 (date of death listed as January 15, 1942). The other crew were listed as missing. Memorialized on the Rabaul memorial at Bita Paka War Cemetery (Rabaul) are Hender on panel 34. Hornby, Wilcox and Hoare on panel 36. Memorialized on the Lae memorial at Lae War Cemetery is Anthony on panel 7. Wreckage During 2000, the wreckage of this aircraft was rediscovered by Rod Pearce. The engines and pieces of aircraft remain on the bottom in situ. References Some sources list the U.S. Navy bureau number as PBY-5 Catalina 08436, but this number is likely in error. This Catalina may or may not have had one assigned. ADF Serials - Catalina A24-11 CWGC - Thomas Henry Davies CWGC - Russell Glentworth Hender CWGC - Henry Wilmot Hornby CWGC - Leslie Thomas Hoare CWGC - Frederick Henry Anthony CWGC - Brian Charles James Wilcox CWGC - John Henry Marks CWGC - Charles Ogilvie Thanks to Rod Pearce and 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 April 20, 2025 |
 PBY  10m  MIA 6 Missing |
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