RUTTER, Reginald Dixon
| Service Number: | 404218 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 June 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 1 January 1919 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies, 19 January 1942, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Ambon Memorial, Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia Col 10 |
| Memorials: | Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Sergeant, 404218 | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 404218 |
Lost in Air battle
On 19 January 1942 a Lockheed Hudson light bomber L-414 A16-64 piloted by F/Lt Maurice Willing S/N 218 departed Ambon Laha Airfield, (where the 13 Squadron RAAF was based at the time), with instructions to to conduct photographic surveillance of enemy positions around the Manado region of North Sulawesi. Other members of the crew were Sgt William Henry Field S/N 407786, (Second pilot), and Sgt Reginald Dixon Rutter S/N 404218 (Wireless Air Gunner, and Leading Aircraftman James Moore Cunneen S/N 5972 (Wireless Operator) who joined the crew on this flight because another crew member had been struck down with illness. Unfortunately the A16-64 was attacked by enemy Zero fighter planes and it crashed somewhere in the vicinity of Manado killing all of the crew members aboard. Anyone wishing to know more about this tragedy can learn more by referring to the stories submitted by others about the other crew members on the VWMA online site.
Submitted 6 March 2026 by Neil Field