Harry Edgar CUTTEN

Harry Edgar CUTTEN Update Details

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CUTTEN, Harry Edgar

Service Number:	3403
Enlisted:	30 May 1938
Last Rank:	Warrant Officer
Last Unit:	No. 2 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Coolgardie, Western Australia, Australia, 29 September 1913
Home Town:	Esperance, Western Australia
Schooling:	Machinist Apprenticeship Western Australian Government Railways, Midland Workshops, Western Australia
Occupation:	Machinist/Fitter
Died:	Flying Battle, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies, 28 April 1943, aged 29 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials:	Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, No 2 Squadron RAAF Roll of Honour

World War 2 Service

30 May 1938:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 3403, No. 5 Initial Training School Pearce
30 May 1938:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 3403
3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Warrant Officer, 3403
1 Apr 1942:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, No. 25 Squadron (RAAF)
29 Aug 1942:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 3403, No. 2 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SE Asia 1941-45

Help us honour Harry Edgar Cutten's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Mari Walker

Warrant Office Harry Edgar CUTTEN was a crew member in Hudson aircraft A16-241 which was one of seven Hudson aircraft of No. 2 Squadron. They were detailed to carry out an armed reconnaissance of the Aroe Islands on 28 April 1943.
The crew were
FO Ralph Reginald JAMES
P/O Ronald Drinkwater RYAN
W/O Harry Edgar CUTTEN
F/Sgt Kenneth Gordon KEECH
F/Sgt Patrick Stanislaus REEN
Sgt Roy Edgar NORRIS

Two of the aircraft had issues and the remaining five landed at Millingimbi (Northern Territory) to refuel and took off at approx. 1030K hours.
At 1104K hours A16-241 signalled that one engine had gone and nine minutes later advised that it was about 30 minutes flying time from Millingimbi.
In giving its distress signal, A16-241 used the call sign of the Hudson aircraft which had returned to Hughes with engine trouble. Some time elapsed before it was ascertained from which aircraft the signal had come. The four Hudsons were ordered to carry out a search for A16-241. This was done without success and the search continued each day for a week, with no trace found of the aircraft or crew.
It is believed that, following engine trouble, the aircraft lost height and was compelled to make a forced landing on the sea. No sign of the aircraft or crew was ever found.

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