LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant Colin Bentley ARBON
Service No: 407995
Born: Mile End SA, 3 August 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 1 March 1941
Unit: No. 31 Squadron, Morotai
Died: Air Operations (No. 31 Squadron Beaufighter aircraft A8-151), Ambonia Bay, 4 April 1945, Aged 27 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Clayton Fulton Arbon and Gladys Edith Arbon, of Adelaide, South Australia; husband of Norma Bernice Laught Arbon, of Marryatville, South Australia.
Roll of Honour: Adelaide SA
Remembered: Column 7, Ambon Memorial, Indonesia
Remembered: Panel 102, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
On 4 April 1945, Beaufighters A8-79 and A8-151 were detailed to conduct an armed reconnaissance over Ambonia Island. A8-151 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire while conducting a strafing run. A8-79 returned safely to base.
The crew members of A8-151 were:
Flight Lieutenant Colin Bentley Arbon (407995) (Pilot)
Pilot Officer Ralph Leonard Wood (431843) (Navigator)
The crew members of A8-79 were:
Flying Officer Albert Henry Power (Navigator) Discharged from the RAAF: 15 November 1945
Flight Lieutenant Robin Lee Roberts (Pilot) Discharged from the RAAF: 17 September 1945
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, 56
Bibliography:
Parnell, N.M. (Neville M.) Whispering Death: A history of the RAAF’s Beaufighter Squadrons, AH & AW Reed Terry Hills NSW, 1980
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1990