BUTTERFIELD, Thomas Ian
| Service Number: | 416205 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 April 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 30 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Renmark, South Australia, 24 July 1915 |
| Home Town: | Loxton (SA), Loxton Waikerie, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Kokoda, Papua New Guinea, 12 October 1942, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Wunkar District Honour Roll |
World War 2 Service
| 24 Apr 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 416205, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Apr 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 416205 | |
| 12 Oct 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 416205, No. 30 Squadron (RAAF), Kokoda - Papua | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement |
Killed in action
Widespread sorrow was felt when it was learnt in Loxton that Sgt T. I. (Tom) Butterfield (.R.A.A.R) of Wunkar had been reported missing (believed killed) in air action over the New Guinea area. Sgt. Butterfield was born in Renmark in 1915, and moved to Wunkar with his parents at an early age.
He received his education at the Wunkar School and later attended high school in Adelaide. He was the eldest son of Mr. J. B. and the late Mrs. Butterfield who were well known and highly respected in the Wunkar and Loxton districts. Mr. Butterfield carried on farming at Wunkar until his wife died in 1939 and he then left to reside at Torrensville and his son Tom carried on the farm up till he enlisted in 1940. Sgt. Butterfield did his training in Western Australia, this
State, Victoria and N.S.Wales. Tom was a very popular young man, and
excelled on the sports field, particularly at football. As Wunkar is in the Loxton Association in all sport teams, Tom was well known in Loxton and greatly admired for his sportsmanship. The last letter received by the young airman's father was
written the night before he was reported missing.
Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record Thursday 29 October 1942 page 5
Submitted 12 October 2015 by Faithe Jones
Biography contributed by John Edwards
Sgt Thomas Ian Butterfield of No. 30 Squadron RAAF was lost on operations (along with 416205 Sgt. James Rupert Wilson (/explore/people/652781)) while flying Beaufighter aircraft A19-68 on a strafing mission over Japanese positions at Kokoda on October 12 1942.
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