LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Augustine Michael KEARNEY
Service No: 410498
Born: Echuca VIC, 16 September 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 30 January 1942
Unit: No. 622 Squadron (RAF), RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk
Died: Air Operations: (No. 622 Squadron Stirling aircraft EJ113), France, 18 November 1943, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Bussy-Le-Chateau Churchyard, Marne, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Michael Joseph and Mary Isabella Jane Kearney, of Echuca, Victoria, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Echuca VIC
Remembered: Panel 125, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On the night of 18/19th November 1943, Stirling EJ113 took off from RAF Mildenhall at 1710 hours, detailed to bomb Mannheim, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. The aircraft crashed at Bussy-le-Chateau (Marne), 18 kms north east of Chalons-sur-Marne, France. All the crew were killed.
The crew members of EJ113 were:
Sergeant George Henry Austin (1390546) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Douglas Ralph Comber (1601106) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Flight Sergeant Augustine Michael Kearney (410498) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Millard Leon Nesvold (R/159321) (RCAF) (Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Stanley Owen (160664) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant Louis Pezaro (1583515) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Flight Sergeant Russell James Thomson (409862) (Second Pilot)
Flying Officer Stanley Willetts (134699) (RAFVR) (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, 166/22/146