CARNELL, Samuel James
| Service Number: | 40274 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 April 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | No. 20 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Hamilton, Victoria, Australia, 6 January 1916 |
| Home Town: | Geelong West, Greater Geelong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Victorian State School System, Australia (High School Level) |
| Occupation: | Petrol Driver for Shell Company Australia |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies, 1 October 1943, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Commemorated ~ Column 10, Ambon Memorial, Maluku, Indonesia. |
| Memorials: | Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hamilton War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Corporal, 40274, No. 20 Squadron (RAAF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Apr 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 40274 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Bonald
Extract from Odgers, G.J. (George James) (VX127783) Air War Against Japan 1943-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1957 – Page 360
Details of final mission ~ On 26th September and again on 28th September three Catalinas mined Batu Kilat harbour and Pomelaa harbour and its approaches. The raid on Pomelaa revealed the presence there of an 8,000-ton vessel with an efficient anti-aircraft armament. The gunners opened up on Flight Lieutenant Lawrence’s (1) aircraft, scoring many hits, but it returned safely to base.
Two nights later a Catalina of No. 20 Squadron, captained by Stilling and carrying Lieutenant Commander Carr as a passenger, set out from Darwin for the purpose of attacking this vessel with torpedoes. Stilling made the attack but was shot down over the target area. This was announced over the Japanese radio on 8th October. At 3 p.m. on 2nd October the call signals of the missing aircraft were heard at Perth for twelve minutes, but it was believed that these were broadcast by the enemy as a ruse to encourage Allied searching efforts. On the night of 3rd October Bolitho (2) dropped eight 250-lb bombs on Pomelaa and searched the entire area and all escape points between Celebes and Darwin for the missing aircraft, but without result. A dozen or more aircraft searched the west and north coasts of Australia.
(1) Squadron Leader Dennis Russell Lawrence DFC (402164) was discharged from the RAAF on 15 November 1946
(2) Wing Commander William Keith Bolitho DFC (O4401) was discharged from the RAAF: Date Unavailable.
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