James CATANACH DFC MID

James CATANACH DFC MID Update Details

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CATANACH, James

Service Number:	400364
Enlisted:	18 August 1940
Last Rank:	Squadron Leader
Last Unit:	No. 455 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 23 November 1921
Home Town:	Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria
Schooling:	Brighton Grammar School, Geelong Grammar School
Occupation:	Salesman
Died:	Prisoner of War - Executed by the Gestapo, Germany, 29 March 1944, aged 22 years
Cemetery:	Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery Coll. grave 9. A. Inscription: HIS DUTY FEARLESSLY AND NOBLY DONE. EVER REMEMBERED
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial

World War 2 Service

18 Aug 1940:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 400364
17 Oct 1940:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman
15 Apr 1941:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant
5 Oct 1941:	Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, No. 144 Squadron (RAF)
25 Mar 1942:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, Promoted to Acting FLTLFT RAAF
1 May 1942:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, No. 455 Squadron (RAAF)
16 Sep 1942:	Imprisoned
29 Mar 1944:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 400364, No. 455 Squadron (RAAF), Shot whilst whilst trying to escape - Prisoner of War

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Biography contributed by David Barlow

Squadron Leader James Catanach DFC 400364 was one of the three RAAF members that were executed following their participation in the "Great Escape" and their subsequent recapture by German forces - the other two were Warrant Officer Albert Horace Hake 403218 and Flight Lieutenant Reginald Victor Kierath 402364

SQNLDR Catanach was shot down in Hampden AT109 of 455SQN RAAF and became a PoW; another member of his crew - Flight Sergeant John Donald Davidson 5372 - also died while held as a PoW (March 1945)

Three crewmen survived the war: Flight Lieutenant George Robert Anderson 400316 / Flight Sergeant Cecil William Francis Cameron 404632 / Sergeant John Richard Hayes 404462

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