LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Henry Charles Malcolm BOWER
Service No: 37472
Born: Sydney NSW, 2 January 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 19 June 1941
Unit: No. 32 Squadron, Port Moresby PNG
Died: Air Raid: Seven Mile Airfield, Port Moresby PNG, 24 February 1942, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Henry and Adelaide Bower; husband of Eileen Elizabeth Bower, of South Coogee, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 102, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
About midday on the 24th, 10 enemy bombers made the first daylight attack on the Port Moresby base. Bombing from about 16,000 feet they blasted the No. 32 Squadron’s camp area, wrecked all the buildings on the aerodrome, destroyed motor transport at that time irreplaceable, and a Hudson and a civil aeroplane parked on the aerodrome. An airman, Leading Aircraftman Bower of No. 32 Squadron, was killed and Squadron Leader Hoddinott (1) was wounded.
(1) Squadron Leader Rupert Uriah Hoddinott (250340) was discharged from the RAAF on 18 May 1945.
Extract from Gillison, D.N. (Douglas Napier) (254475) Royal Australian Air Force 1939-1942, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1962 – Page 453
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9301, 37472