LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Dean Walter FRANCIS
Service No: 416665
Born: Reynella SA, 23 September 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 16 August 1941
Unit: No. 2 Squadron, Darwin NT
Died: Air Operations (No. 2 Squadron Hudson aircraft A16-170), Timor, 25 October 1942, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Albert Stanley Francis and Gladys Madeleine Francis, of Brighton, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Brighton SA
Remembered: Panel 10, Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River NT
Remembered: Panel 98, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Brother of Sergeant Hugh Benjamin Francis (442241)
Three Hudsons were sent against Penfoei on 25 October. Flight Sergeant Alan Hawkesford (1) (A16-181) led Flying Officer Keith Mills (2) (A16-160) and Flight Sergeant Rayden Dunning (A16-170), but just before making landfall on the south coast of Timor at Cape Mali, Dunning’s crew lost formation and his Hudson was not seen again.
(1) Flight Lieutenant Alan Wildy Hawkesford DFC (406484) was discharged from the RAAF on 1 February 1946.
(2) Flying Officer Keith Rosslyn Mills (405637) was killed on air operations on 20 April 1943.
Extract from Bennett, J. (John) Highest Traditions: The History of No. 2 Squadron RAAF, AGPS Canberra, 1995 – Pages 174-5
The crew members of A16-170 who all came from South Australia were:
Pilot Officer Rayden Kingsley Ross Dunning (407317) (Pilot)
Sergeant Dean Walter Francis (416665) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Lindsay Hubert Skene Fraser (5103) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Michael Leonard Kenihan (407437) (Observer)
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, 136