LEST WE FORGET

Flying Officer Timothy Felix HAYES

Service No: 426223
Born: Townsville QLD, 14 September 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 23 May 1942
Unit: No. 12 Squadron
Died: Aircraft Accident: (No. 12 Squadron Vultee Vengeance aircraft A27-209), near Merauke, Dutch New Guinea, 5 March 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Michael Byron Hayes and Ellen Monica Hayes, of Giru, Queensland
Roll of Honour: Townsville QLD
Remembered: Panel 6, Lae Memorial PNG
Remembered: Panel 100, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

On 5 March 1944 Vengeance aircraft A27-209 and A27-230 were flying in formation over the ocean. The aircraft changed course to avert a heavy cloud but A27-230 emerged alone. A27-230 then flew a reciprocal course and found an oil slick. A27-230 then recovered to Merauke.

The crew members of A27-209 were:

Flight Sergeant Lawrence Michael Devitt (10424) (Pilot)
Flying Officer Timothy Felix Hayes (426223) (Observer)

References:

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/17/497

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