LAWRENSON, Frederick James
| Service Numbers: | 412544, O22005 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 July 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Squadron Leader |
| Last Unit: | No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Carlton, Victoria, Australia, 18 March 1921 |
| Home Town: | Mayfield, Waratah, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Arncliffe and Camdenville public schools, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Insurance Clerk |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Korea, 24 December 1952, aged 31 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Monument: United Nations Memorial Cemetery Busan, Dong-gu, Busan Metropolitan City, South Korea. Wall No: 2 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cootamundra Korean War Memorial, Griffith Korean War Missing In Action Honour Roll, Gympie Memorial Lane Murals, Ipswich Korean 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
| 19 Jul 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 412544, No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Aug 1945: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, End of Hostilities |
Korean War Service
| 25 Jun 1950: | Involvement Squadron Leader, O22005, No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Aug 1952: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, O22005 | |
| 8 Aug 1952: | Involvement |
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Provided to VWMA for publication by “Historical Unrecovered War Casualties – Air Force”.
Squadron Leader Frederick James LAWRENSON, (AKA Freddie) DFC, AFC, MID O22005/412544 was born in Carlton NSW on 8 March 1921, He was employed as a Insurance assessor before he enlisted in the RAAF on 19 Jul 1941 in Sydney as a trainee Pilot. He qualified as Pilot in Rhodesia (now South Africa) on 30 Nov 1942, and commenced operations in Middle-East in May 1943. Due to actions in 1944 he was awarded DFC whilst flying with 450 Squadron (RAAF). He served in the Italian, Middle Eastern and European theatres of war.
After WW2 armistice, he remained in the RAAF and was posted to Japan in 1948 serving with BCOF/BCAIR, 76 and 77SQN. In Feb 1948 he married Yvonne Jean Turner. He returned to Australia in early 1949 and on 07 Aug 1952 was posted to 77SQN Korea to fly Meteors. During his tour with 77Squadron he was awarded the AFC. He as listed MIA believed killed on 24 December 1952, aged 31: married with a daughter Jill -born Dec 1950.
Mission Summary
Squadron Leader Frederick James LAWRENSON, Service No. O22005 DoB: 8 March 1921, MIA 24 December 1952, LKP TOKYO GRID CT1565, latitude and longitude 38 30 51N 126 52 41E.
On 24 December 1952, SQNLDR Lawrenson was Section leader of a flight of four meteors tasked with armed reconnaissance of the Imjin River and Koksan valley. At 1655 SQNLDR Lawrenson commenced a strafing run on a vehicle. Ground fire was seen to hit SQNLDR Lawrenson aircraft and almost immediately, his starboard engine exploded and his wing broke off. The aircraft was seen to crash into a small hill and explode on impact. An ejection attempt was not observed and no radio calls were heard from Lawrenson. It is unlikely that SQNLDR Lawrenson survived the crash and LKP is assessed as TOKYO GRID CT1565 and latitude and longitude 38 30 51N 126 52 41E
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