James Desmond QUINN

James Desmond QUINN Update Details

If you confirm that you want to proceed with the update, this record will be locked for editing by all other users until you have finished. You will have 7 days to complete your changes before they will be automatically submitted.

Do you want to proceed?

QUINN, James Desmond

Service Number:	NX88065
Enlisted:	10 February 1942
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion
Born:	Balmain, Leichhardt - New South Wales, Australia, 23 September 1922
Home Town:	Balmain, Leichhardt, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Not yet discovered
Died:	Accidental (Injuries - aircraft crash/ explosion) crash on takeoff, Near Jacksons Airfield, Port Moresby, New Guinea, 7 September 1943, aged 20 years
Cemetery:	Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea (C1. F.1.) Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Bomana, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Leichhardt War Memorial

World War 2 Service

10 Feb 1942:	Enlisted Private, NX88065, 2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion
10 Feb 1942:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX88065, 2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion
7 Sep 1943:	Involvement Private, NX88065, 2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion, New Guinea - Huon Peninsula / Markham and Ramu Valley /Finisterre Ranges Campaigns

Tragedy strikes 2nd/33rd Battalion in Townsville while awaiting troop lift flight to Nadzab

The 2nd/33rd returned to Port Moresby in late July in preparation for the operations capture Lae, in New Guinea. On 7 September, while it waited near Jackson's Airfield at '7Mile' near Moresby to be flown to Nadzab, via Tsili Tsili, a fully fuelled and 'bombed up' US B-24 Liberator bomber crashed on take off among the trucks carrying the battalion. Sixty men, mainly from D Company, were killed and 92 injured. This represented a third of the battalion's fatal casualties for the entire war.

The remnants of the battalion were flown to Nadzab on 8 September and subsequently participated in the advance on Lae, which fell on 16 September.

Upload a Picture

Links and Documents

Research Links