KEARINES, Victor William
| Service Numbers: | N199319, NX154265 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 June 1943 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | General / Motor Transport Company/ies (WW2) |
| Born: | Narromine, New South Wales, Australia, 22 December 1916 |
| Home Town: | Tomingley, Narromine, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Certificate for entry to Secondary School |
| Occupation: | Motor Driver / Farming |
| Died: | Injuries, New Guinea, 8 September 1943, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea CWGC Grave No: Section B. Plot 2. Row A. Grave 23. Inscription: "HE WAS TRUE & LOYAL TO HIS COUNTRY & LOVED ONES" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Parkes & District Cenotaph, Peak Hill Memorial Gates, Peak Hill War Memorial, Peak Hill and District WW2 Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 28 Nov 1941: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, N199319, Royal Australian Army Service Corps, Enlisted for war service in the Australian Military Forces in Peak Hill New South Wales. | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Jun 1943: | Involvement Private, NX154265, General / Motor Transport Company/ies (WW2), Enlistment/Embarkation WW2 | |
| 21 Jun 1943: | Enlisted Port Moresby, New Guinea | |
| 21 Jun 1943: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX154265, General / Motor Transport Company/ies (WW2) |
Help us honour Victor William Kearines's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Bonald
On Tuesday, September 7th, 1943, at Jackson Field in Port Moresby, New Guinea, a B-24D Liberator bomber (The Pride of the Cornhuskers) from the 403rd Bomber Squadron, 43rd Bombing Group USAAF, crashed during take-off, likely due to pilot disorientation in the dark. The aircraft hit trees and slammed into a convoy of trucks carrying over 130 soldiers from the Australian Army, who were waiting to board C-47 transport planes to move to the front lines. The bomber’s 500-pound bombs and 2,800 gallons of fuel exploded, killing 15 Australian soldiers instantly and severely injuring 47 more, who later died. Another 90 soldiers were wounded but survived, all 11 crew members aboard the bomber (The Pride of the Cornhuskers) were killed. Private Victor William Kearines – NX154265, was one of the 47 Australian Military personnel severely burned, succumbing to his injuries on 8th September 1943 at the 2nd / 5th Australian General Hospital, Port Moresby .
Click images to start slideshow.