DELAHUNT, Robert William
| Service Number: | 439573 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 July 1943, Sydney, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 21 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Concord, New South Wales, Australia, 5 April 1925 |
| Home Town: | Concord, Canada Bay, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Morotai Island, Halmahera Island, Netherlands East Indies, 31 July 1945, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Flight Sergeant, 439573 | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Jul 1943: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 439573, No. 21 Squadron (RAAF), Sydney, NSW |
Help us honour Robert William Delahunt's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Mari Walker
Son of William and Florence Evelyn Delahunt, of Concord, New South Wales, Australia.
On 31 July 1945 Flight Sergeant Robert Delahunt was serving with 21 Squadron, flying in Liberator A72-66. The Liberator aircraft left Moratai at 8am local time on 31 July to attack anti-aircraft positions at Lolobata in the Halmaheras. No word was heard from the aircraft after take off and the weather encountered in the target area was bad with low clouds and heavy rain. The aircraft failed to return to base although the remaining aircraft on the mission returned to base at 1.35pm local time. Searches were made by other aircraft but no sign of the missing aircraft or crew was found.
The crew members of A72-66 were:
Flight Sergeant Aubrey Edward Burgess (443659) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Robert William Delahunt (439573) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Douglas Poultney Dewhurst (403780) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Jack Bonfield Faviell (403916) (Pilot)
Warrant Officer Bruce Vaughton Paech (416188) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Neville Herbert Playford (Navigator) (439635)
Flight Sergeant Gordon Malcolm Scott (23277) (Flight Engineer)
Pilot Officer William Joseph Stubbs (418199) (Co-Pilot)
Sergeant Ronald Jack Walker (439333) (Navigator)
Click images to start slideshow.