LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Arthur Ian FRIDAY
Service No: 408805
Born: Mansfield VIC, 1 April 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 23 May 1941
Unit: 13th Bomber Squadron (USAAF)
Died: Air Operations: (13th Bomber Squadron Mitchell aircraft 41-12466), near Salamaua, New Guinea, 25 May 1942, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Francis Henry and Eva Jane Friday, of Mansfield, Victoria
Roll of Honour: Mansfield VIC
Remembered: Panel 7, Lae Memorial PNG
Remembered: Panel 134, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Mitchell 41-12466 was detailed as one of a formation of aircraft to attack Lae, New Guinea, on 25 May 1942. The aircraft was attacked by Zeros and heavy anti-aircraft fire while over Lae, and crashed 20 miles south east of Salamaua, near the coast of New Guinea. The Co-Pilot, Second Lieutenant Mitchell (USAAF) who eventually reached the mainland, confirmed that Sergeant Friday had been killed in action.
The crew members of 41-12466 were:
Sergeant Guy E Clanton (14006584) (USAAF) (Gunner)
Sergeant Arthur Ian Friday (408805) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Second Lieutenant Donald C Mitchell (O-411844) (USAAF) (Co-Pilot) Only survivor
Corporal William A Mutch Jr (33099073) (USAAF) (Engineer)
Master Sergeant Ray O Oliver (6725145) (USAAF) (Bombardier)
Captain Arden Morell Rulison (O-393203) (USAAF) (Pilot)
Sergeant Lloyd Maxwell Bailey (405710) was lost in Mitchell 41-12450 on the same bombing mission.
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, 163/113/205
PacificWrecks.com Website