LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Douglas Alfred WAY
Service No: 442288
Born: Wallaroo SA, 15 September 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 22 May 1943
Unit: No. 78 Squadron
Died: Air Operations (No. 78 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-534), New Guinea, 24 September 1944, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Charles Alfred and Hilda Way, of New Mile End, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Adelaide SA
Remembered: Panel 7, Lae Memorial, PNG
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
On return from a bombing mission at Babo, Dutch New Guinea, Sergeant Way in Kittyhawk A29-534 crashed into the sea 3 kms from Kamiri airstrip, Noemfoor Island. The aircraft exploded and burned on impact and the incident occurred during a heavy rainstorm.
The Section members who undertook the mission to Babo on 24 September 1944 were:
Pilot Officer (later flying Officer) David William Pearson Borthwick (401099) Discharged from the RAAF: 7 March 1945
Flying Officer Peter John Cook (417458) Discharged from the RAAF: 1 October 1945
Sergeant (later Warrant Officer) Clarence Edward Hurst (430775) Discharged from the RAAF: 6 March 1946
Sergeant Douglas Alfred Way (442288)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 160
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Spitfire, Mustang and Kittyhawk in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1988