Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Daughter of Edward Reuben and Elsie Earl Hills of Petersham, NSW

Douglas DC3 (C-47) VH-CTB, A30-16 (A65-2) of 36 Squadron RAAF Townsville was involved in a fatal accident at Archerfield Aerodrome with a total of all 23 personnel on board killed making this the 10th Worst Air Disaster in Australia (see ozatwar for more info).  The crew of four RAAF personnel were killed as were all passengers consisting of 17 Australian and 2 American personnel.

RAAF Personnel:

Flying Officer Alexander Kenn Arnold (pilot) 36 Squadron RAAF

Sergeant Joseph Hammond (co-pilot) 36 Squadron RAAF

Sergeant Lyle Carter Morgan (Wireless Operator) 36 Squadron RAAF

LAC Samuel Ivan Wiles (Fitter) 36 Squadron RAAF

Sergeant John Atherton HQ North Eastern Area, Townsville

LAC Thomas William Beckley 20 Signals Unit, Townsville

Pilot Officer David Andrew Blackley 20 Signals Unit, Townsville

LAC John Edward Chinner 3 Fighter Sector, Townsville

Sergeant Robert William Tylden Chisholm 1 Reserve Personnel Pool, Garbutt

LAC Kevin Francis Flanagan 9 Mobile Fighter Sector, Milne Bay

LAC Charles Paton Eric Fly 12 Signals Unit, Townsville

Sergeant Max Irvenia Thomas Jarvis 28 Radar Finding Unit, Fitzroy Island, Cairns

LAC Terrence Joseph Kelly 12 Signals Unit, Townsville

LAC Kenneth Owen Paton 11 Squadron, RAAF

Pilot Officer Alfred Tatlock 20 Signals Unit, Townsville

LAC Geoffrey Frederick Waters 1 Transport and Movement Office, Sydney

Corporal Thomas Keith McDowell Watt 28 Radar Finding Unit, Fitzroy Island, Cairns

WAAAF Personnel:

Corporal Violet May Gunning WAAAF Brisbane W/T Station

Corporal Ruth Ada Hills WAAAF Brisbane W/T Station

ACW Florence May Jackson WAAAF Brisbane W/T Station

Australian Army Personnel:

Lieutenant Irwin Leo Smith A.C.M.F. 2 L. of C. Sub Area, Australian Headquarters

US Army Personnel: Major Eugene H. Halliwell (0-393127) and 1st Lieutenant Francis M. Skinner (0-430024)

The DC-2's had been allocated the series A30 by the RAAF and when the first DC-3's arrived on the scene they had initially been allocated the same RAAF Series No. This was due to be rectified at a later stage when the A65 Serial No. was allocated to them. Thus VH-CTB was scheduled to be renumbered to A65-2 after 17 April 1943.

Corporal Ruth Ada Hills #92533

“At approx. 0514 hours on the 27/3/43 Aircraft A30-16, crashed about one mile south-south-east of Archerfield aerodrome in a locality known as Cooper’s Plains, near Brisbane, Queensland.” It was a heavily timbered area and none of the 23 military personnel onboard the RAAF Douglas C-47 Dakota survived. Described as “the worst air disaster in Australia's history” at the time, it is still listed in the top ten worst aviation accidents.

Among the casualties was eighteen-year-old Corporal Ruth Ada Hills. Listing her birthplace as Berry, where her mother’s people had farmed for many years and her uncles WW1 service and sacrifice is honoured, Ruth’s death was largely felt throughout the Shoalhaven community.

With the consent of her father, Ruth enlisted in the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) in October 1941. She was reportedly “one of the youngest girls to join the W.A.A.F.” having advanced her age by a year. A stenographer in civilian life, she was deemed “suitable as a Teleprinter Operator.” Twelve months later, Ruth posted into the Brisbane Wireless Telegraphy Station and was promoted to Corporal. She was “…described by the officer in charge of the W.T. station as one of her best N.C.O.’s”.

In the weeks leading up to the fateful morning, Ruth had accepted a marriage proposal and suffered a relapse of dengue fever. Released from hospital the day before the crash, Ruth was granted sick leave and intended returning home to Petersham in Sydney to surprise her family and announce her engagement.

Sadly, the first indication her parents had of her visit “…was a telegram saying she had been killed.” They immediately travelled by train to Brisbane for the funeral and Ruth’s “…intended fiancé, Sergeant-Pilot Warwick Addison, of Queensland, flew from his New South Wales base to Brisbane when he learned of the tragedy.”

On Monday the 29th March 1943, “An hour after the 9th Division had marched along Adelaide Street to the accompaniment of cheers…crowds watched other members of a Service go by there—but this time in silence. It was the funeral cortege of 20 of the victims of the R.A.A.F. transport aircraft crash, among whom were three members of the W.A.A.F.”

“W.A.A.F. colleagues of the girls formed a guard of honor, and members of the R.A.A.F. were bearers. The coffins were placed on four R.A.A.F. vehicles and covered with the Union Jack and the Australian Flag. A service at Lutwyche Cemetery was conducted by three Air Force padres…” and “W.A.A.F.'s placed wreaths on the 20 graves. Relatives of seven of the crash victims attended the funeral.”

K. Standen 2022

Sources: NAA: A9301, 92533 ; The Daily Telegraph 30 Mar 1943 ; Sydney Morning Herald 30 Mar 1943 : The Courier-Mail 29 and 30 Mar 1943.