LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Leslie Robert JOHNSTON
Service No: 426605
Born: Alstonville NSW, 27 October 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 18 July 1942 (at Brisbane QLD)
Unit: No. 40 Squadron (RAF), Foggia Main, Italy
Died: Air Operations: (No. 40 Squadron Wellington aircraft LP 464), Italy, 11 October 1944, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of David George and Jessie Joan Johnston; husband of Florence Pearl Johnston, of Lismore, New South Wales, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 16, Column 2, Malta Memorial, Malta
Remembered: Panel 124, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Alstonville War Memorial, Alstonville NSW
Remembered: Bulahdelah War Memorial, Bulahdelah NSW
Remembered: Bulahdelah Memorial Hall Honour Roll, Bulahdelah NSW
Remembered: Lismore Cenotaph, Lismore NSW
On 11 October 1944 Wellington LP 464 of 40 Squadron was detailed to attack an enemy target at Verona, Italy. LP 464 was one of three aircraft that failed to return from the mission. One aircraft was seen to go down on fire and successfully ditch, as a green light was seen floating intermittently. Two other aircraft were seen shot down over the target and a Rear gunner saw five parachutes bale out from one of these aircraft. Following post war enquiries and investigations, 6 graves were exhumed in the Verona cemetery but it was not possible to identify the remains. The missing crew members were recorded as having no known grave.
The crew members of LP 464 were:
Warrant Officer Ronald William Frederick Bodley (1392669) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant Arthur Gordon Butcher (1331519) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Sergeant Gerald Coyle (551595) (RAF) (Air Bomber)
Flight Sergeant Edward Charles Fitzgerald (436403) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Leslie Robert Johnston (426605) (Navigator)
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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/21/207
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line