Stanley Burfield (Stan) HUNT

Stanley Burfield (Stan) HUNT Update Details

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HUNT, Stanley Burfield

Service Number:	412078
Enlisted:	21 June 1941
Last Rank:	Flying Officer
Last Unit:	No. 75 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Gladesville, New South Wales, Australia, 2 April 1918
Home Town:	Nevertire, Warren Shire, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Grazier
Died:	Flying Battle, New Guinea, 27 January 1944, aged 25 years
Cemetery:	Lae War Cemetery M A 11
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Flying Officer, 412078
21 Jun 1941:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force
21 Jun 1941:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 412078, No. 75 Squadron (RAAF)
13 Sep 1941:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School, Temora
2 Apr 1942:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, No. 1 Service Flying Training School
13 Apr 1942:	Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, No. 1 Operational Training Unit (RAAF) Nhill, Bairnsdale, East Sale
15 Apr 1942:	Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, No. 2 Operational Training Unit Mildura
2 Oct 1942:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 412078, No. 75 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SW Pacific 1941-45
2 Oct 1942:	Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, No. 75 Squadron (RAAF)
4 Oct 1942:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 412078, No. 75 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SW Pacific 1941-45, Commenced Fighter Ops.
1 Mar 1943:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, No. 75 Squadron (RAAF)
1 Mar 1943:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 412078, No. 75 Squadron (RAAF), Milne Bay - Papua New Guinea WW2
1 Jul 1943:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, No. 75 Squadron (RAAF), Commissioned.
1 Jan 1944:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, No. 75 Squadron (RAAF)
27 Jan 1944:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 412078, No. 75 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SW Pacific 1941-45

S B Hunt

Stan Hunt was my uncle. He was educated at Newington College, Stanmore, Sydney. He married Delmar Leggo from Spears Point, NSW during the war years. They did not have any children. Stan would have gone back to being a grazier at Nevertire in central NSW. He was killed in New Guinea in January 1944. I was born after the war so I did not know him.

My grandfather was very upset when Stan was killed and I can remember my father saying Grandpa was never the same. Grandpa lost 2 brothers in the First World War and amazingly enough one was killed in an accidental plane crash in the then newly formed Royal Air Force in England. Stan was killed in an accidental plane crash in New Guinea.

Biography contributed by David Barlow

75SQN RAAF Kittyhawk aircraft A29-103 flown by Pilot Officer Stirling 405427 and A29-530 flown by Flying Officer Hunt 412078 collided during strafing operations against enemy positions and crashed near Jomba (Yomba) Island which is about two miles south-east of Madang, New Guinea

Pilot Officer Stirling is commemorated on the Lae Memorial as his body was not recovered. Flying Officer Hunt is buried in Lae War Cemetery

Biography contributed by Maurice Kissane

Stanley Hunt was a Grazier from New South Wales. He was born in 1918. The son of Horace and Dorothy Hunt (nee Taylor). Stan as he would have been called, was exempt from militia service because of his reserved occupation as a primary producer.

However, he volunteered for RAAF Aircrew. It was not until mid 1941 that he was called up. Stan likely aspired to be a Spitfire Pilot, having followed the epic Battle of Britain news from a far. However, Imperial Japan's entry into the war meant that his war would be much closer to home.

Stan went solo in the DH82 Tiger Moth, followed by advanced training in the CAC Wirraway. He was an above average pilot. Hence streamed for Fighters.

Stan did his Fighter Combat Training in the P40 Kittyhawk.

He was posted to No. 75 Squadron (Fighter) RAAF. He saw action at Milne Bay and from Goodenough Island. Stan was commissioned in the field after the No. 75 Sqn CO put in a strong recommendation as per his file.

He was able to get some leave to get married before returning to Fighter Ops. Stan married Delmar Elizabeth Leggo in St Andrews Church in Newcastle on 13 Nov 1943.

Delmar's brother Jack Leggo DFC was a No 617 Sqn RAF Dambuster. Hence Delmar knew the risk involved in marrying RAAF Aircrew in war time.

Her marriage to Stan lasted 75 days before he was KIA.

Her name appears on his Commonwealth War Grave Memorial in Lae War Cemetery along with his parents.

Lest We Forget.

NAA RAAF File cited and MyHeritage Family Records.

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia