LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Cedric John EDMONDS
Service No: 419802
Born: Heidelberg VIC, 18 August 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 27 October 1942 (at Sydney NSW)
Unit: No. 84 Squadron
Died: Air Operations (No. 84 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-479), off Gove NT, 23 March 1944, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Henry Clatworthy Edmonds and Ina Eliza Edmonds, of Heidelberg, Victoria
Roll of Honour: Heidelberg VIC
Remembered: Panel 9, Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River NT
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 23 March 1944, Kittyhawk A29-479 flown by Flight Sergeant Edmonds was one of 19 aircraft from No. 84 Squadron returning to Horn Island from Livingstone in the North Western Area. The formation departed Livingstone and landed and refuelled at Gove. After leaving Gove the formation flew in line astern escorted by a Beaufort aircraft. The Leading echelon with the Beaufort escort climbed over some cloud, but the Rear echelon being slightly lower entered a small patch of cloud and they lost the Beaufort escort aircraft. The Leader of the Rear Echelon called up the Squadron Commander, who ordered all aircraft to return to base. On returning to base, it was found that A29-479 had not been seen since the Squadron turned to go back. After refuelling, the Beaufort aircraft returned to the position at which the Squadron had turned back, and searched the area. The Pilot reported a large oil patch, but found no trace of wreckage or Flight Sergeant Edmonds. Searches were carried out the next day with no result.
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, 166/11/122; A9845, 158