LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer John DOWNES
Service No: 420162
Born: Chatswood NSW, 11 May 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 11 October 1941
Unit: No. 184 Squadron (RAF) RAF Station Detling, Kent
Died: Air Operations: (No. 184 Squadron Hurricane aircraft KZ607), France, 8 February 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Longueness (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John and Edith Blanche Downes, of Pymble, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 121, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Knox Grammar School Old Boys’ War Memorial, Wahroonga NSW
On 8 February 1944 Hurricane KZ607 flown by Flying Officer Downes took off from Detling and was engaged in strafing a target near St Omer. The aircraft received a direct hit from anti-aircraft fire and the engine was shot away and Flying Officer Downes killed instantly. Squadron Leader Rose, the Commanding Officer of the Squadron, was leading the formation and after a successful attack KZ607 was hit by anti-aircraft fire when climbing away to rejoin the formation. A Missing Research and Enquiry team report stated “the aircraft crashed at Lumbrae on 8 February 1944. “
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 166/10/76
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line