CULLEN, John Francis George
| Service Numbers: | 423078, N238307 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 October 1941, Arncliffe, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 2 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales, Australia, 12 January 1922 |
| Home Town: | Kangaroo Valley, Shoalhaven Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Bowral High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Insurance Clerk |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Arafura Sea, Netherlands East Indies, 16 October 1943, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Maryborough No. 3 Wireless Air Gunners' School Memorial Wall, No 2 Squadron RAAF Roll of Honour, Nowra All Saints Anglican Church WW2 |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Flight Sergeant, 423078 | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , N238307, Arncliffe, NSW | |
| 21 Dec 1941: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, N238307, 45 Australian Infantry Battalion CMF, FTD 47 days, released to join RAAF | |
| 20 Jun 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 423078 | |
| 15 Aug 1942: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, No. 3 Wireless Air Gunnery School Maryborough | |
| 4 Mar 1943: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, No. 1 Bombing and Air Gunnery School / No. 1 Air Observers School / Evans Head, remustered W.O.A.G. | |
| 4 Sep 1943: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, No. 2 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 16 Oct 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 423078, No. 2 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SE Asia 1941-45, Reported Missing during Air Operation / Reconnaissance Flight over Arafura Sea, Netherlands East Indies |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Mari Walker
Flight Sergeant John Frances CULLEN was a member of Hudson aircraft A.16-178 of No. 2 Squadron which took off on an operational flight on 16 October 1943 and failed to return to its base.
The crew were
F/O John Pomeroy OLDRIDGE, Captain
F/Sgt John Frances George CULLEN
F/Sgt Donald Neal RUMBLE
Sgt Francis Richard DRAKE-BROCKMAN, Navigator
Sgt David William PETCH, Air Gunner
The aircraft took off unaccompanied from Millingimbi Island, Northern Territory, to carry out a shipping reconnaissance over the Arafura Sea, but no communications were received from the aircraft after take off. When it failed to return to base in the specified time, two aircraft were detailed to search the tracks of the missing aircraft but no trace was found of the aircraft or its crew.
Thorough searches were undertaken in an extended area but all failed to find any sign of the aircraft or its crew.
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