Malcolm Frederick MERRETT

MERRETT, Malcolm Frederick

Service Number: 19710
Enlisted: 20 November 1940
Last Rank: Leading Aircraftman
Last Unit: No. 20 Squadron (RAAF)
Born: Donald, Victoria, Australia, 29 September 1909
Home Town: Donald, Buloke, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Died: Aircraft accident, Cairns, Queensland, Australia, 13 April 1943, aged 33 years
Cemetery: Cairns War Cemetery, Queensland
Plot A. Row B. Grave 7.
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement 19710
20 Nov 1940: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 19710
20 Nov 1940: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 19710, RAAF Ground Training Schools
13 Sep 1943: Involvement Leading Aircraftman, No. 20 Squadron (RAAF)
Date unknown: Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 19710

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Biography contributed by VWMA Example

Enlisted as Malcolm Fredrick MERRETT 

Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Richard Ackland Merrett and Catherine Merrett; husband of Phyllis Jean Merrett, of Ballarat, Victoria.

Biography contributed by David Barlow

Catalina A24-36 (USN PBY-5 08190) of Number 11 Squadron RAAF crashed near the entrance to Cairns harbour on return from a night-time search patrol. They had flown for 23 hours 23 minutes and ran out fuel after being unable to land due to severe weather conditions. 

There were two survivors:

Sergeant Geoff Suckling 401056 (1st W/T) who recovered and was discharged in June 1945 with the rank of Warrant Officer

LAC Murray Byham 51514 (armourer - ground crew) who was seriously injured and was discharged in June 1944 from Number 1 Convalescent Depot

Killed were:

Pilot - Flight Lieutenant Arnold Hinchcliffe 411106

Navigator - Pilot Officer Leslie Henstridge 416497

2nd Pilot - Sergeant Lenard Carr 416206

1st Engineer (ground crew) - Sergeant Harold McGillivary 19268

2nd Engineer (ground crew) - LAC Malcolm Merrett 19710

Rigger - Sergeant James Lahey 405743

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