LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Roy Neville HAY
Service No: 434252
Born: Bundaberg QLD, 27 July 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 6 November 1942
Unit: No. 75 Squadron
Died: Aircraft Accident: (No. 75 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-437), between Hollandia and Biak, 19 July 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Thomas and Florrie Hay, of Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 7, Lae Memorial PNG
Remembered: Panel 103, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
A report by No. 75 Squadron stated: “Warrant Officer Gregory Carlisle Mogg (412081) and Flight Sergeant Hay arrived at Hollandia from Mokmer airstrip, Biak Island at about 1500 hours on 18 July, 1944, both flying Kittyhawks. Flight Sergeant Hay was to fly replacement Kittyhawk A29-437 aircraft back to Biak Island and Warrant Officer Mogg in Kittyhawk A29-577 was sent to accompany him. At this time the main body of No. 75 Squadron were operating from Biak and a skeleton ground staff remained at Hollandia. On 19 July, Mogg and Hay were instructed to obtain accommodation at No. 80 Squadron due to the move the following day by the Squadron, and their further movements were unknown. Up until the 23 July on which day the main body of No. 75 Squadron moved from Biak to Noemfoor, no signal or other advice had been received. The weather from 17 July to 23 July was bad, and it was not expected that Mogg and Hay would leave Hollandia. On 24 July they had still not rejoined the Squadron. On 26 July, Fighter Sector at Kamiri was given their names and the numbers of the missing aircraft, and were requested to assist in locating them. The two missing aircraft took off from Hollandia at 1310 hours on the 19 July 1944, no travel signal having been originated.”
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 A9301, 434252; A9845, 157