LEST WE FORGET
Warrant Officer William Parsell GEORGE
Service No: 414927
Born: Brisbane QLD, 6 February 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 6 December 1941
Unit: No. 76 Squadron
Died: Injuries from Air Operations: (loss of No. 76 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-1109 on 13 July 1945), Borneo, 19 July 1945, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Labuan War Cemetery, Malaysia
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Parsell George and Lily Edna George, of Ascot, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 13 July 1945, Kittyhawk A29-1109 was in a formation of aircraft engaged on a bombing and strafing attack on Tengoa, Borneo. After the attack the formation flew in line astern up the Tengoa valley searching for signs of enemy activity. After turning back to the original target, the Leader called his section and all answered including Warrant Officer George. Another five strafing runs in line astern were carried out, after which the Leader instructed the section to reform at 3,000 feet over Tengoa. A29-1109 failed to rejoin the formation, and the Leader tried to contact the aircraft by radio. The three aircraft stayed in the area of 45 minutes trying to contact the missing aircraft but were unsuccessful. A29-1109 was last seen at 1530 hours in position 04.33N 115.25E. Information later received from an advance AIF patrol was that friendly natives had found Warrant Officer George wandering in the jungle, but he died on the 19 July 1945 from injuries when the aircraft crashed.
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, 166/15/520; A9845, 170