OLIVER, James Percival
| Service Number: | 401660 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 March 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 11 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Melbourne, 25 August 1915 |
| Home Town: | Balranald, Balranald, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Missing Presumed killed air operations, New Guinea Area, 2 September 1943, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Balranald War Memorial, Cairns Catalina A24-50 Memorial Plaque, Lae Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 20 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 401660, Aircrew Training Units | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 401660, No. 11 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 2 Sep 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 401660, No. 11 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SW Pacific 1941-45, See link in sidebar explaining circumstances of the aircraft's loss |
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 Faithe Jones
Son of James Charles and Rebecca Oliver, of Balranald, New South Wales.
Biography contributed by Steve Larkins
Please see this link for the story of James Oliver's last flight (/research/home-page-archives/mystery-of-the-black-cat).
Click images to start slideshow.