LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Donald Norrie HERBERT
Service No: 433297
Born: Manly NSW, 27 August 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 9 March 1943
Unit: 531st Bomber Squadron (USAAF)
Died: Air Operations: (531st Bomber Squadron Liberator (B24J) aircraft 44-40398), near Koepang, Timor, 9 October 1944, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Ambon War Cemetery, Indonesia
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Herbert Reginald and Olive Ruby Herbert, of Balgowlah, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 134, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Manly ANZAC War Memorial, Manly NSW
On 9 October 1944, Liberator 44-40398 was one of a formation of six aircraft detailed to attack Koepang, Timor. After the release of bombs on the target, and at a height of 16,000 feet, 44-40398 was seen to be hit and on fire. The aircraft crashed mid-point into Koepang Bay, but five parachutes were seen to leave the aircraft at heights between 14,000 and 12,000 feet. Japanese records did not indicate whether there were any survivors. In February 1947, a search party located the wreck in the sea not far from the beach, near the village of Namsain, two miles south east of Koepang. A plate with the aircraft serial number was found, and three bodies were recovered, including that of Flight Sergeant Herbert.
The crew members of 44-40398 were:
Staff Sergeant Alanson S Ackerman (33740629) (USAAF) (Gunner)
Staff Sergeant Alvin W Beenken (37660698) (USAAF) (Gunner)
Private First Class Fred C Cave (17169701) (USAAF) (Photographer)
Technical Sergeant Charles Wilbur Cross (13103057) (USAAF) (Flight Engineer)
Technical Sergeant Joseph A Fritschy (31294133) (USAAF) (Radio Operator)
Second Lieutenant Harry R Gould (O-711306) (USAAF) (Navigator)
Flight Sergeant David Norrie Herbert (433297) (Radar Counter Measures Operator)
Staff Sergeant Morris Massin (38541256) (USAAF) (Gunner)
Second Lieutenant John T O’Loughlin (O-765834) (USAAF) (Bombardier)
Second Lieutenant John T O’Neill (O-768203) (USAAF) (Co-pilot)
Second Lieutenant Robert F Prest (O-760706) (USAAF) (Pilot)
Staff Sergeant Lloyd E Williams (19090058) (USAAF) (Gunner)
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
Horton, G.R. Jr. (Glenn) The Best in the Southwest: The 380th Bombardment Group (H) in World War II Southwest Pacific Area, Mosie Publications, Savage Minnesota US, 1995
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/17/776
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line
Bibliography:
Nelmes, M.V. (Michael) Tocumwal to Tarakan: Australians and the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, Banner Books Belconnen ACT 2616, 1994