LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Donald George James HORSBURGH
Service No: 11640
Born: Melbourne VIC, 28 July 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 2 August 1940
Unit: No. 2 Squadron, Hughes NT
Died: Air Operations: (No. 2 Squadron Hudson aircraft A16-109), Timor, 23 March 1942, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Ambon War Cemetery, Indonesia
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Herbert George and Eveline May Horsburgh, of South Pascoe Vale, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Pascoe Vale VIC
Remembered: Panel 98, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 23 March 1942, during a mission over Koepang, Hudson A16-109 was attacked just off the coast and the crew succeeded in downing a Zero fighter. The aircraft was damaged in the battle and had to be abandoned, with the Pilot the only member who survived.
The crew members of A16-109 were:
Sergeant Donald George James Horsburgh (11640) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Jack Lyle MacAlister OBE DFC (390) (Pilot) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 30 October 1945
Sergeant John Royston Maddern (401824) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant James Gordon Wright (405530) (Second Pilot)
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 A9301, 11640
Bibliography:
Bennett, J. (John William) Highest Traditions: the history of No. 2 Squadron RAAF, Australian Government Publishing Service, 1995
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992