LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Richard Francis BOYCE
Service No: 413520
Born: Roseville NSW, 2 March 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 12 September 1941
Unit: No. 78 Squadron
Died: Air Operations (No. 78 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-512), near Kaimana Dutch New Guinea, 29 October 1944, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Wilfred Maiden Boyce and Marjorie Martin Boyce, of Artarmon, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Artarmon NSW
Remembered: Panel 6, Lae Memorial PNG
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 29 October 1944, Kittyhawk A29-512 flown by Flying Officer Boyce was one of a formation of 8 aircraft that had completed the bombing and strafing of an enemy target. Flying Officer Boyce was heard to say over the radio that he was ditching the aircraft. He was also seen baling out and the parachute was still attached to him when he entered the sea near Kaimana. He disappeared in five seconds and searches by aircraft including two Catalinas failed to find any trace.
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, 166/6/763; A9845, 160