Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

USAAF Liberator aircraft 42-110120 “Sleepy Time Gal” was a 530th Bomber Squadron B-24J with an all-Australian crew which failed to return from an operational mission to Macassar in the Celebes Islands (Netherlands East Indies). Three radio transmissions were received from the aircraft, the last of which advising that they were not likely to reach base due to fuel / engine problems and were preparing to ditch near the Baba and Sermata Islands. Extensive searches at the time of the loss and post-war failed to return any results regarding the exact location of the aircraft or its crew.  The crew are commemorated on the Northern Territory Memorial to the Missing located at Adelaide River War Cemetery, NT -

Sergeant Frederick William Anstey 116993 - Son of Arthur William and Vera Edna Anstey of Footscray, Victoria

Flight Sergeant William Ronald Barber 423587 - Son of John George Hewson Barber and Emily Barber of Casino, NSW

Sergeant Walter James Bird 62526 - Son of James Waters Bird and Edith Bird; Husband of Lena Bird of Lane Cove, NSW

Flight Sergeant James Edward Cook 429432 - Son of James MacFarlane Cook and Laurel May Cook of Mount Garnet, Queensland

Flight Lieutenant Alan Arthur Cropley 416078 - Son of Arthur John and Harriett Jane Goodale Cropley; Husband of Valmai Dawn Cropley of Solomontown, South Australia

Warrant Officer Stuart Hugh Davidson 413969 - Son of Walter Henry and Jessie Mary Davidson of Tumblong, NSW

Flying Officer Alan Lindsay Harrison 408190 - Son of Frederick William and Eva Mary Harrison of Cradoc, Tasmania

Sergeant Stewart Hugh Jamieson 36474 - Son of William and Nellie Jamieson of Mosman, NSW

Warrant Officer Keith Leonard James Killen 416861 - Son of Leonard Scott Killen and Olive Killen of Brompton, South Australia

Flying Officer Donald John O'Dea 408590 - Son of Michael Patrick and Emily Jessie O'Dea; Husband of Myrtle Mary O'Dea of Auckland, New Zealand.

Flight Sergeant Charles Leslie Wilken 408448 - Son of Henry Peter and Chrisella Wilken; Husband of Marie Amy Wilken of New Town, Tasmania

Australian Army Major Henry Robert Latreille VX21828 of the 2/2nd Anti-Aircraft Regiment - Royal Australian Artillery attached to RAAF Headquarters North Western Area - Son of Henry Le Messurier Latreille and Ida May Latreille; Husband of Joan Westwood Latreille of Toorak, Victoria

Son of Arthur John and Harriett Jane Goodale Cropley; husband of Valmai Dawn Cropley, of Solomontown, South Australia.

Private Casualty Advice
Advice has been received by Mrs. A. Cropley, of Jellicoe street, Solomontown, that her husband. FO Alan Arthur Cropley, has been reported missing. He was the navigator of a liberator bomber operating  over enemy territory which failed to return to base. FO Cropley is the youngest son of Mrs H. Goodale., of George street, Norwood.