HOBBS, Richard George
| Service Number: | 415983 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 April 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 11 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Busselton, Western Australia, 1922 |
| Home Town: | Harvey, Harvey, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Muresk School |
| Occupation: | Dip Agric |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Fakfak Dutch New Guinea (now West Papua) , Dutch New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies, 2 September 1943 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cairns Catalina A24-50 Memorial Plaque, Harvey District WW2 Roll of Honour, Harvey Sub Branch RSL Honour Roll (WW2), Harvey War Memorial, Lae Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 26 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 415983, Aircrew Training Units, Perth | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 415983, No. 11 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 26 Apr 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 415983, No. 11 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SW Pacific 1941-45, Commencement date requires validation |
Wreckage of Black Cat A24-50 discovered in West Papua 3 Aug 19
3 August 2019
THE Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has completed a search and recovery mission in Indonesia for the remains of 10 Australian airmen aboard Catalina A24-50, 76 years after the aircraft failed to return from a wartime mission.
Reported missing on 2 September 1943 while on a sea mining operation to Sorong in occupied Dutch New Guinea, the wreckage of RAAF No 11 Squadron Catalina A24-50 was located near Fakfak, in West Papua in April 2018.
Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel Darren Chester said the Air Force Unrecovered War Casualties team positively identified the missing aircraft during a reconnaissance mission to the crash site last year.
“We are committed to honouring the service and sacrifice of Australian military personnel from all theatres of war,” Mr Chester said.
“The RAAF team has concluded further search activities in the field and have reported finding a number of items of interest which require further testing in order to confirm the origin of each item.
“The only major recognisable pieces of wreckage were two sections of the wing, engines and propeller, and the empennage (rear part of fuselage) across the top of a ridge.
“We are very grateful for the support and assistance provided by the Indonesian Air Force throughout this process, without which this work could not take place.”
The Hon Darren Chester MP
Submitted 7 July 2020 by Steve Larkins
Biography contributed by Steve Larkins
The story of Richard HOBBS last flight is HERE (/research/home-page-archives/mystery-of-the-black-cat)
Service Number: 415983
Rank: Flight Sergeant
Unit: No. 11 Squadron
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Conflict: Second World War, 1939-1945
Date of death: 02 September 1943
Place of death: Dutch New Guinea, Indonesia
Cause of death: Flying Battle
Cemetery or memorial details: Lae Memorial, Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea
Source: AWM148 Roll of Honour cards, 1939-1945 War, Air Force
1939-1945 War Medal - 1939-1945 Star
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Albert John and Florence Matilda Hobbs, of Harvey, Western Australia. Dip. Agric. (Muresk).
Click images to start slideshow.