LEE, William Norman
| Service Number: | 34535 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 October 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Aircraftman |
| Last Unit: | RAAF Station Darwin |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 August 1919 |
| Home Town: | Essendon, Moonee Valley, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Koepang, Timor, 30 January 1942, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Panel 10, Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory, Australia |
| Memorials: | Adelaide River Northern Territory Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement 34535 | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Oct 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, RAAF Station Darwin | |
| 23 Oct 1940: | Enlisted 34535 |
Help us honour William Norman Lee's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by David Barlow
Son of William James Lee and Lida Matilda Lee of Essendon, Victoria
Qantas Empire Airways Flying Boat G-AMUH “CORIO” was shot down by Japanese aircraft during a flight from Darwin to Koepang, Timor in the Netherlands East Indies
The aircrew (RAAF Reserve) that were killed are commemorated on the Ambon Memorial, Maluku, Indonesia (note: not on the WW2 nominal roll, no Personnel or Casualty files are held by the NAA) -
Pilot Officer Archibald Sloan Patterson (Radio Officer) 268075
Pilot Officer William George Cruickshank (Purser) 267534
Leading Aircraftman Sidney Charles Elphick (Steward) 301034
The RAAF personnel on board as passengers enroute to Timor are commemorated on the Northern Territory Memorial - Additional information on this incident is provided on the entry for Sergeant James Charles McMillan 6544
Corporal Edward George Kerr 18607
Aircraftman William Oliver Beckett 43169
Aircraftman John Henry Holliday 403513
Aircraftman Gordon Charles Van Treight 8041
Aircraftman James De Pinna 60211
Aircraftman William Norman Lee 34535
Also killed:
Mister E. Cutfield of Sarawak (CWGC - Civilian War Dead)
Mister G. A. Farrelly of Sarawak (CWGC - Civilian War Dead)
RAN Paymaster Lieutenant David William McCulloch HMAS Leeuwin - commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial in England
Survivors:
Captain Aubrey Albert Koch from Tasmania (Flying Boat Commander). Received a broken right leg and machine-gun bullet wounds in the left arm and left leg. Evacuated to Darwin where he was caught up in the first Japanese raid on the town.
First Officer Victor Lyne - served in RAAF January 1938 - March 1941 - discharged as a Flying Officer from the Signals School
Passenger - Mister Frank Moore - Sarawak Civil Servant (Aged 32)
Passenger - Mister John Fisher - Sarawak Civil Servant (Aged 30)
Passenger - RAN Paymaster Lieutenant Bruce Lempriere Westbrook - discharged January 1946
Click images to start slideshow.