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 |
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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