CHATTO, Harry Stewart
| Service Number: | 421569 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 February 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 180 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia, 12 March 1920 |
| Home Town: | Kogarah, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Senior Audit clerk |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Germany, 21 March 1945, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany Joint Grave 21. A. 6-7. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Flying Officer, 421569 | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Feb 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 421569, No. 2 Initial Training School Bradfield Park | |
| 28 Feb 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 421569, No. 2 Initial Training School Bradfield Park | |
| 11 Jan 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 421569, No. 226 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 | |
| 2 Jul 1944: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, No. 226 Squadron (RAF) | |
| 3 Jan 1945: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, No. 226 Squadron (RAF) | |
| 24 Feb 1945: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 421569, No. 180 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45, Killed in Action over Bucholt, Germany |
Help us honour Harry Stewart Chatto's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Ronald Henry Stewart Chatto and Winifred Essie Chatto, of Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia.
DUTY NOBLY DONE. EVER REMEMBERED
CHATTO.—March 21, 1945, 421569 Flying-Officer Harry Stewart Chatto, R.A.A.F., aged 25, much loved eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Chatto, of Kogarah, and loving brother of Keith (R.A.A.F.), previously reported missing in air operations over Bocholt, Germany, now reported as having lost hls life. Observer of the only all-Australian crew (Mitchell bomber) in 180 Squadron, 2nd Tactical Air Force, R.A.F. Also a tribute to the crew. Treasured memories.
Biography contributed by David Barlow
Mitchell bomber KJ563 of 180 Squadron RAF was shot down by anti-aircraft fire over the target area of Bocholt, Germany with 3 members of the all RAAF crew killed:
Flying Officer Harry Stewart Chatto 421569
Flying Officer Robert Millar Kennard 422080
Flying Officer Leslie Albert Ellis 422151 (survived the loss of Ventura aircraft AE678 in May 1943 while undergoing training in Canada - Sergeant Rogers 421828 was killed in that incident)
Flight Sergeant John Milton Farr 422472 bailed out of the stricken aircraft and survived to become a Prisoner of War - he was liberated by advancing Allied forces in early April and was discharged from the RAAF in July 1946
Information from http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/06573.php
On 21 March 1945 six Mitchell bombers from 180 Squadron RAF of the Second Tactical Air Force took off from B.58 advanced airfield near Melsbroek in Belgium on a mission to bomb the rail marshalling yards in Bocholt, Germany
Mitchell KJ563 with a 4 man RAAF crew was hit by flak and crashed at a farm in the Stenern district near Bocholt
Mitchell FW236 with a 5 man RAF crew was shot down by flak and crashed 5 km north east of Borken
Click images to start slideshow.