Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frank Norman Hamood (409046), born in 1919 in Mount Gambier, SA, after finishing high school and technical school, worked as a spare parts salesman for the Ford Motor Co Geelong, Victoria. He played a number of sports, including gulf, cricket, swimming and tennis. He enlisted in 1941 in Melbourne’s RAAF recruiting service and served in the RAAF, attaining the rank of Flight Sergeant. Frank ‘embarked at Sydney on 23 August 1942 for the UK; but as a result of a flying battle in France he lost his life for the noble cause aged 23. His military record stated, 466 Squadron Wellington LN442 took off from RAF Leconfield at 2356 hours on the night of 11 August 1943 to carry out a mining mission in French coastal waters off St Nazaire. Flight Sergeant Hamood was navigator for this mission. Eight aircraft from the Squadron took part in the mission and of these, LN442 failed to return. At the time, brave Frank and his crew didn’t think of the danger; however, they did not survive the ordeal. It was later established that all the crew members had been killed. It was on 12 August 1943 [Posting on death: 466 Squadron]. Frank and his comrades gave their lives to something much bigger than themselves, believing that Australia’s freedoms and way of life were worthy of sacrifice. His army record also stated: Frank Norman Hamood was buried at the ‘Guidel Communal Cemetery, France’. His name is also listed on the Roll of honour in Geelong.


From the book:

Dzavid Haveric, 'A History of Muslims in the Australian Military from 1885 to 1945: Loyalty, Patriotism, Contribution', Cambridge Scholars Publishing, London, 2025.