Charles Raymond GURNEY

Charles Raymond GURNEY Update Details

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GURNEY, Charles Raymond

Service Number:	160
Enlisted:	14 December 1925
Last Rank:	Squadron Leader
Last Unit:	Air Force Headquarters
Born:	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 22 May 1906
Home Town:	Cremorne, North Sydney, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Not yet discovered
Died:	Flying Battle, Kiriwina Island, New Guinea, 2 May 1942, aged 35 years
Cemetery:	Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Bomana, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

World War 2 Service

14 Dec 1925:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 160, RAAF Point Cook
14 Dec 1925:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 160, No. 33 Squadron (RAAF)
3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Squadron Leader, 160
2 May 1942:	Involvement Squadron Leader, 160, Air Force Headquarters, Air War SW Pacific 1941-45

Help us honour Charles Raymond Gurney's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by David Barlow

Squadron Leader Charles Raymond Gurney (# 160) AFC was killed when USAAF Marauder 40-1426 of the 22nd Bomb Group, 19th Bomber Squadron crashed on Kiriwina Island, New Guinea

Aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire over Simpson Harbor at Rabaul but the crew were able to get it back to the southern end of Kiriwina Island where it crashed during an attempted emergency landing

Milne Bay's Number 1 Airfield was re-named in Gurney's honour, which is still used today

(incident covered in book “Allied Air Transport Operations South West Pacific Area in WWII - Volume 1” by Robert H. Kelly)"

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War Memorial
Australia