ANGUS, John Vernon
| Service Numbers: | 15189, 262693 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 July 1918, Note NAA Service Record has him listed as SN 15159 |
| Last Rank: | Squadron Leader |
| Last Unit: | HQ North Eastern Area Command (RAAF) |
| Born: | Outtrim, Victoria, Australia, 27 February 1900 |
| Home Town: | Prospect, Prospect, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Aircraft accident, Cleveland Bay, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 7 September 1943, aged 43 years |
| Cemetery: |
Townsville War Cemetery, Queensland, Australia C.A.13., Townsville War Cemetery, Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, North Adelaide Prospect Presbyterian Church Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Jul 1918: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 15189, Note NAA Service Record has him listed as SN 15159 | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Dec 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 15189, Discharged due to cessation of hostilities. |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 262693, HQ North Eastern Area Command (RAAF) |
|---|
World War 1 Service
| Date unknown: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 15189 |
|---|
World War 2 Service
| Date unknown: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 262693 |
|---|
Tragedy strikes 2nd/33rd Battalion in Townsville while awaiting troop lift flight to Nadzab
The 2nd/33rd returned to Port Moresby in late July in preparation for the operations capture Lae, in New Guinea. On 7 September, while it waited near Jackson's Airfield at '7Mile' near Moresby to be flown to Nadzab, via Tsili Tsili, a fully fuelled and 'bombed up' US B-24 Liberator bomber crashed on take off among the trucks carrying the battalion. Sixty men, mainly from D Company, were killed and 92 injured. This represented a third of the battalion's fatal casualties for the entire war.
The remnants of the battalion were flown to Nadzab on 8 September and subsequently participated in the advance on Lae, which fell on 16 September.
Submitted 7 September 2017 by Steve Larkins
Biography contributed by David Barlow
Catalina A24-52 of Number 11 Squadron (original USN Serial No 08335) crashed in Cleveland Bay at Townsville while attempting to land in rough conditions. After touching down it travelled a short distance before it struck a large wave and sank by the bow. Thirteen of the nineteen RAAF passengers and crew were killed:
FLTLT Charles John Miles (Captain) 405317 - Husband of Patricia Betty Miles of Colac, Victoria
FLTLT William John Canterbury (2nd Pilot) 400037 - Son of Thomas and Winnifred Lillian Canterbury of Dandenong, Victoria
Flying Officer Ronald Irvine Ferguson (3rd Pilot) 402496 - Son of Robert Joseph and Florence Jane Ferguson of Northbridge, NSW
Flying Officer Gordon John Robert Hockey (Navigator) 411089 - Son of Reuben and Alice Elizabeth Hockey & Husband of Phillis Edna Hockey of Armidale, NSW
Flying Officer Reginald Albert Weeks (WO/AG) 420317 - Son of John Thomas Weeks and Ellen Louisa Weeks of Maroubra, NSW
Flight Sergeant Bernard Victor McInerney (WO/AG) 420585 - Son of John Thomas McInerney and Ellen McInerney of Albion Park, NSW
Corporal William Richard George Lobb (Fitter 11E - ground crewman) 61254 - Son of Richard Joseph and Florence Maud Lobb of Ultimo, NSW
SQNLDR Leo Mathew Hogan 281940 Mention in Despatches (MiD) (passenger) - Son of Mr and Mrs M. J. Hogan & Husband of Constance Edna Marie Hogan (nee Richards) of Townsville, Queensland
Flying Officer Charles Harry Ratcliffe 119559 (passenger - Personal Assistant to Air Commodore Cobby) - Son of William Harry and Lydia Ratcliffe & Husband of Stella Esme Ratcliffe of Kogarah, NSW
SQNLDR John Vernon Angus 252693 (passenger) - Son of William James Angus and Sydney Angus of Prospect, SA & Husband of Kathleen Angus of Adelaide, SA
FLTLT Frank Haighton Lord 252297 (from Number 6 Medical Receiving Station - Merauke) - Son of Doctor Percy Oswald Lord and Francisca Frederica Lord & Husband of Margaret Ethel Lord of South Caulfield, Victoria
FLTLT William Archie Wilkinson 3418 (Airman # 1300) (passenger from Number 12 Signals Unit) - Son of William and Mary Jane Wilkinson & Husband of Cornelia Elizabeth Wilkinson of Albert Park, Victoria
Pilot Officer Beresford Frederick Shearman 423181 (passenger from 43 Squadron) - Son of Stewart Frederick and Marie Millicent Shearman of Orange, NSW
Crash Survivors (all survived war):
Wing Commander Willem Lodewyk Bosschart Stephens 1175
Sergeant Maxwell Burnett Dore 23699 (Fitter 11E - ground crewman)
Corporal Ronald Colin Smith 22211 (Fitter 11A - ground crewman)
Corporal Albert Leslie Fowler 62546 (Armourer - ground crewman) - awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his actions following this crash
Wing Commander Bruce Panton MacFarlan 26010 - Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Air Commodore Arthur Henry Cobby (post-WW2 Service Number O251334) Commander of the Order of the British Empire; received the George Medal for his efforts in saving others following this crash. He was the Air Officer Commanding North Eastern Area for much of WW2. Served in WW1 as a Captain with the Australian Flying Corps where he was awarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross 3 times (DFC & 2 bars) and a Distinguished Service Order (DSO).
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