HALLEY, John Beverley
| Service Number: | O5309 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 January 1945 |
| Last Rank: | Pilot Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Perth, Western Australia, Australia , 2 August 1926 |
| Home Town: | Leederville, Vincent, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Geraldton High School |
| Occupation: | Pilot |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Korea, 11 February 1953, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Pilot Officer Halley's body was never recovered and is therefore regarded as missing, presumed killed in action. United Nations Memorial Cemetery, South Korea Wall no. 1 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cootamundra Korean War Memorial, Geraldton "HALLEY" Memorial Chair, Griffith Korean War Missing In Action Honour Roll, Gympie Memorial Lane Murals, Ipswich Korean War Memorial, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial, Korea United Nations Memorial Cemetery Wall of Remembrance, Lithgow War Memorial, Norfolk Island Korean War Memorial, Wagga Wagga Korean Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 5 Jan 1945: | Enlisted O5309 |
|---|
Korean War Service
| 25 Jun 1950: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, O5309, No. 77 Squadron (RAAF), RAAF Operations - Korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Oct 1952: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, O5309 |
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Provided to VWMA for publication by “Historical Unrecovered War Casualties – Air Force”.
Pilot Officer John Beverley HALLEY, MID, O5309/85627, was born in Perth on 2 August 1926, and achieved WA leaving Certificate in 1944. His civilian employment was listed as Labourer. He enlisted RAAF 05 Jan 45 as Airman trainee and served until discharged under demobilisation programme in 19 Sep 1945. He re-enlisted in RAAF on 23 Jun 1947 as Trainee Airman and qualified as Radio Serviceman. On 29 Aug 1949 he commenced Pilot Training and was awarded wings 22 Feb 1951. After Graduation, he served with 38 Transport Squadron on war time operations in Malaya (01 Sep 1951 to 29 May 1952). Upon his return he married Shirley Myra Mahonyin June 1952. He completed Fighter training and was posted to 77 Squadron Korea on 13 Sep 1952 to fly Meteors. He was listed MIA believed killedon 11 February 1953 aged 26. MID was awarded posthumously.
Mission Summary
Pilot Officer John Beverley HALLEY, MID, Service No: O5309, DoB: 2 August 1926, MIA 11 February 1953, LKP TOKYO GRID BT 5072, latitude and longitude 38 33 00N 126 08 00E.
On 11 February 1953, PLTOFF Halley as Number 3 in four Meteor flight was tasked to conduct armed reconnaissance of Sariwon toAnpandani road. The flight split into pairs as they entered the operating area, PLTOFF Halley as his wingman FLTLT Sugden operating to the north of the main road. They attacked trucks approximately six miles north of Sinmak on a side road and after a number of strafing passes, the pair sighted more trucks further west along the track and successfully strafed this group. Both then returned to the original group of truck. As FLTLT Sugden recovered from his last pass and looked back he saw a long area of fire whichhebelieved to be caused by a crashed aircraft near the targeted trucks. FLTLT Sugden did not receive radio response from PLTOFF Halley and reported PLTOFF Halley had crashed very close to the trucks he was strafing. LKP is assessed as TOKYO GRID BT 5072, latitude and longitude 38 33 00N 126 08 00E.
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