PLENTY, Herbert Clarence
| Service Numbers: | 582, O3103 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 September 1939, Point Cook, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Group Captain |
| Last Unit: | RAAF Canberra |
| Born: | Port Pirie, South Australia, 2 February 1921 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | National Private Hospital, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 13 May 2013, aged 92 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Norwood Park Crematorium, Mitchell, A.C.T. Ex Service Wall, Bottom Right Side, Row 2. Monument:The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Garden of Remembrance, Phillip, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. |
| Memorials: | Crystal Brook Warnertown and District WW2 Honour Board |
World War 2 Service
| 4 Sep 1939: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 582, Aircrew Training Units, Empire Air Training Scheme | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Sep 1939: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Group Captain, O3103 | |
| 4 Sep 1939: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 582, Aircrew Training Units, Point Cook, Victoria | |
| 1 Jun 1941: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 582, No. 8 Squadron (RAAF), Australia's Northern Periphery | |
| 7 Dec 1941: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 582, No. 8 Squadron (RAAF), Malaya/Singapore, Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross | |
| 19 Apr 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 582, No. 100 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SW Pacific 1941-45, Awarded Bar to DFC for "skill and courage in flying operations in the SW Pacific area" |
Non Warlike Service
| 2 Feb 1976: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Group Captain, O3103, RAAF Canberra |
|---|
TELSTARS AEROBATIC TEAM
After the disastrous crash of the RED SALES aerobatic team my father was given the task of resurrecting the aerobatic team, which he did, they were renamed the TELSTARS. No where in the RAAF records is he named as the leader which I find annoying, this is a man who won the DFC twice yet cannot be acknowledged for completing a difficult under very emotional circumstances.
Submitted 24 April 2021 by John Plenty
Biography contributed by John Plenty
An interesting fact about the life and times of my father occured during WW2 whilst stationed in Singapore. Initially every night was party time and then the Japanese came along and so the party ended. With the arrival of the two British War Ships, Prince of Wales and Repulse, all seemed safe and well, but both ships fell to low level torpedo attacks by the Japanese and my father was witness to the attack on these two ships.
During a return flight somewhere over the East Coast of Malaya he saw the Japanese attack and sink both ships and whilst circling around he was discovered by two Japanese Zero fighter planes and despite a determined effort to evade them was eventually shot down somewhere on the east coast of Malaya (this is documented in other writings).
He survived and lived to the ripe old age of 93.
Biography contributed by Steve Larkins
A16-87 (F/Lt Plenty) and shot down 20 miles east of near Kauntan, Malaya 24/01/42 by 4 enemy fighters. Crew: F/Lt C Spurgeon Serv#569, F/O S Chesterman Serv#400001, A/Sgt D Devlin ADF Serials
Biography contributed by Roderick Besier
RI: Herbert Clarence Plenty, Death Notice. Death 13.05.2013, 92, at National Private Hospital. Canberra Times 25.05.2013.
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