Ronald Frank DICKINSON

DICKINSON, Ronald Frank

Service Number: 411876
Enlisted: 21 June 1941, Sydney, NSW
Last Rank: Flying Officer
Last Unit: No. 20 Squadron (RAAF)
Born: Walsall, England, 28 May 1918
Home Town: Kogarah, Sydney, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Clerk - Dept. of Road Transport & Trams
Died: Flying Battle, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies, 1 October 1943, aged 25 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials: Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement Flying Officer, 411876, No. 20 Squadron (RAAF)
21 Jun 1941: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 411876, No. 20 Squadron (RAAF), Sydney, NSW

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Biography contributed by Mari Walker

Son of Henry Randolph and Lilian Dickinson, of Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia.

F/O Ronald Dickinson was one of ten men in Catalina aircraft A24-67 of #20 Squadron. The aircraft was based at Cairns, Queensland, and took off on an operational flight on 1 October 1943. After refuelling in Darwin, the aircraft took off to undertake a night torpedo attack on a merchant ship. After dropping a torpedo, the aircraft was shot down at Pomelaa (Celebes) by anti-aircraft fire and soon after, burst into flames. Lt/Comm Carr managed to escape, suffering burns, as well as P/O McDiarmed who was suffering serious leg injuries. Both men were taken prisoner by the Japanese but P/O McDiarmed died soon after from his injuries. The remainder of the crew were never found and their date of death was officially presumed as 1 October 1943.
The crew were:
W/C SG Stilling, Captain (RAF, DFC)
F/Lt JR Hyde, Pilot
F/Lt JM Barnes, Navigator (RCAF)
F/O NF Dwyer, Navigator
F/O RF Dickinson, WOA/G
P/O DG McDiarmed, WOA/G
Sgt FH Thomson, Fitter
Sgt T McMahon, Fitter
Cpl SJ Carnell, Armourer
Lt/Com PE Carr, Royal Aust Navy (passenger)

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