LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer John Alexander BUCKLAND
Service No: 429646
Born: Norbury England, 8 July 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 16 October 1942 (at Perth WA)
Unit: No. 4 Squadron, Nadzab, New Guinea
Died: Air Operations: Hollandia and Aitape (No. 4 Squadron Boomerang aircraft A46-137), off New Guinea, 27 June 1944, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Herbert Victor and Daisy Winifred Buckland; husband of Evelyn Mary Buckland, of Elwood, Victoria.
Roll of Honour: St. Kilda VIC
Remembered: Panel 6, Lae Memorial, PNG
Remembered: Panel 98, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cenotaph Undercroft, State War Memorial, Kings Park WA
Boomerang Aircraft A46-137 crashed into the sea off Hansa Bay, between Madang and Wewak, on 27 June 1944. The Pilot, Flying Officer Buckland, was attempted to drop a message to 5th Australian Division but came down too low touching the water with a wing tip and crashing into sea.
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, 206
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Wirraway, Boomerang and CA-15 in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1991