LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Ivor Clarence HATCHER
Service No: 417183
Born: Gawler SA, 3 May 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 January 1942
Unit: No. 86 Squadron, Merauke, Dutch New Guinea
Died: Air Operations (No. 86 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-327), off Merauke, 8 September 1943, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Gilbert Roy Christopher and Florence Myrtle Hatcher, of Gawler, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Gawler SA
Remembered: Panel 9, Port Moresby Memorial, PNG
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
On 8 September 1943, Flying Officer Hatcher in Kittyhawk A29-327 disappeared on a transit flight from Merauke to Horn Island, Queensland. Contact with the aircraft which was preceding solo, was lost at 50 miles from Merauke. Enemy aircraft were active in the area and a raid on Merauke was made the following day.
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, 10