LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Richard Buckley BIRRELL
Service No: 419578
Born: Morwell VIC, 4 November 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 5 September 1942
Unit: No. 76 Squadron
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 76 Squadron Mustang aircraft A68-771), between Palawan and Labuan, 28 November 1945, Aged 29 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Birrell, of Caulfield, Victoria
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 32, Labuan Memorial, Malaysia
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 26 November 1945, six Mustang aircraft went to Palawan, Philippines from Labuan, Borneo, on a navigation exercise. One of the aircraft went unserviceable at Palembang and Flying Officer Birrell in A68-771 was left there so that the two aircraft could return to Labuan in company. At
1010 hours on 28 November, Flying Officer Birrell departed from Palawan by himself and the aircraft failed to arrive at its destination. There was low cloud and heavy rain at the time on the route.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/5/1417; A9845, 127