Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Dellit, of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Warrant Officer Lionel Dellit was one of a crew of ten who were in Catalina aircraft A.24-78 of #20 Squadron which took off on an operational flight on 20 May 1944 and failed to return to its base.
The aircraft was one of six engaged on special operations, dropping mines off Sourabaya, Java. About 1700 hours a signal was received at base from A.24-78 indicating that the aircraft had been badly holed in both tanks and was attempting to head for a pre-arranged escape point. One of the other aircraft was close behind A.24-78 and immediately set course for the escape point. A short time later a further message from A.24-78 was received which was that the Captain was going to try to make it to a nearer escape point. Shortly afterwards another message was received which indicated that A.24-78 was about to alight. The search aircraft immediately changed course and despite radar showing A.24-78 on the screen, immediately after its last message it disappeared from the radar screen.
At the time visibility was poor and the sea fairly rough and despite the area being searched for signs of the aircraft or survivors, nothing was found. Several searches were carried out on succeeding days but to no avail. Later searches also proved unfruitful and it was later declared that all on board were presumed deceased on 21 May 1944.
Crew members were:
W/C HG Havyatt, Captain
F/O NB Gill, 2nd Pilot
F/O JAG Maslin, 2nd Pilot
F/Lt FW Jeffrey, Navigator B
F/O CR Whincup, Navigator B
P/O FH Russell, WOAG
W/O L Dellitt, WOAG
Sgt HW Hall, Flight Engineer
Sgt JD Cowley, Flight Engineer
A/Sgt KHJ Clarke, Fitter IIA