STRANGE, Harold Thomas
| Service Number: | A2997 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Eastwood, New South Wales, Australia, 25 August 1927 |
| Home Town: | Erskineville, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Boys HIgh School, NSW |
| Occupation: | Advertising Copy Writer |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Korea, 19 March 1951, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| 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 |
Korean War Service
| 25 Jun 1950: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, A2997, No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Feb 1951: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, A2997 |
Help us honour Harold Thomas Strange's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed
Provided to VWMA for publication by “Historical Unrecovered War Casualties – Air Force”.
Sergeant Harold Thomas STRANGE, A2997/168322, was born Eastwood, New South Wales on 25 August 1927. His hometown was Erskineville, Sydney and he attended Sydney Boys’ High School achieving NSW leaving Certificate in Nov 1944. Prior to enlistment, he was employed as a Advertising Copy Writer with Mr Arthur Smyth and Sons Sydney. He also served with Air Training Corp (No 39 and 31 Sqn) from 1943 to 1945. He enlisted in RAAF on 06 Jan 1947 at Bradfield Park NSW as an Trainee Photographer before re-mustering to Electrician in Jan 1948. In Aug 1948, he was accepted for Pilot Training and was awarded his Wings on 10 Aug 1950. After graduation he was initially posted to No 3 Squadron before being posted to No 77 Squadron Korea on 25 Feb 1951 to fly Mustangs. He was listed MIA believed killed on 19 March 1951 age 23.
Mission Summary
Sergeant Harold Thomas STRANGE, Service No: A2997, DoB: 25 August 1927, 77SQN, MIA 19 March 1951, LKP TOKYO GRID CU6444, latitude and longitude 39 14 00 N 127 25 30 E
On 19 Mar 1951, Pilot Officer Klaffer(Section lead) and Sergeant Strange were conducting armed reconnaissance of road and rail between Wonsan and Sunchon(North Korea). Near Iryongdong, Sgt Strange reported hit by flak and was losing oil pressure. PLTOFF Klafferordered SGT Strange to track to Wonsan Harbour and bail out where a rescue helicopter from USS Monte Carlo had been deployed. At 1528 hrs, when over Wonsan Harbour, PLTOFF Klaffernoted two dark objects release from SGT Strange’s aircraft from 1500ft, however he did not see the parachute open. The Aircraft and objects hit the water at TOKYO GRID CU6444, latitude and longitude 39 14 00 N 127 25 30 E. The rescue helicopter arrived at the scene but could not locate SGT Strange. Subsequent searches also failed to locate SGT Strange, despite locating several articles of personal flying kit. As the parachute did not deploy it is very unlikely the SGT Strange would have survived the crash.
Click images to start slideshow.