HAMILTON, Graham
| Service Number: | 405584 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 April 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | No. 42 Squadron RAAF |
| Born: | Allora, Queensland, Australia, 27 August 1920 |
| Home Town: | Allora, Southern Downs, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Allora State School, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia, 6 September 2010, aged 90 years |
| Cemetery: |
Redcliffe Cemetery, Qld |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 26 Apr 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 405584 | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Sep 1941: | Embarked British Forces (All Conflicts), Wireless Operator, 405584 | |
| 14 Nov 1943: | Promoted British Forces (All Conflicts), Lieutenant, No. 489 Squadron (RNZAF) | |
| 10 Mar 1945: | Transferred Operational Training Units (RAAF), Rathmines Lake Macquarie | |
| 11 Mar 1945: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 405584, No. 42 Squadron RAAF, Air War SW Pacific 1941-45, Also served in Rathmines. Lake Macquarie and No 43 squadron Melville Bay | |
| 20 Feb 1946: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 405584 |
R.A.A.F In dramatic Sea Rescue
BRISBANE, October 7. - A dramatic mercy flight of an RAAF Catalina to save the life of an American serviceman was revealed yesterday when the crew of the flying-boat arrived in Bris-
bane.
Making a perfect landing in a heavy swell, 200 miles off the coast from Gladstone, the Catalina took the man on board and flew him to Gladstone on Friday night. Rushed to the Gladstone General Hospital, he was operated on immediately for appendicitis. His condition last night was satisfactory.
The American, Cpl Lester V. Andrews, U.S. Army, had an acute attack of appendicitis early on Friday while travelling on the Liberty ship J.E.B. Stewart to Manila. There were no medical officers on board.
The Catalina was passing through Brisbane on its way to the flying boat base at Melville Bay (Arnhem Land), after being refitted and repaired in Sydney. An urgent call came from U.S. Navy authorities, asking if any Catalinas were available to carry out an air-sea rescue.
The pilot of the Catalina, S/L J. J. McKinlay, of Maryborough, broke the journey and took off immediately on the mercy flight with a skeleton crew. The ship was located by radar. The crew manned a whale boat to bring thc patient to the Catalina.
Sunday Mail ( Brisbane) Sunday 7 October 1945
Submitted 8 November 2024 by Annette Hamilton
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