LEST WE FORGET
Aircraftwoman Rita Irene KIERNAN
Service No: 176710
Born: Cumnock NSW, 18 June 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 16 March 1944
Unit: No. 8 Elementary Flying Training School, Narrandera NSW
Died: Ground Accident, near Yanco NSW, 12 August 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Narrandera War Cemetery, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Daughter of John Michael and Rita Maria Kiernan, of Bathurst
Roll of Honour: Bathurst NSW
Remembered: Panel 117, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, Bathurst NSW
Remembered: Narrandera Tiger Moth Memorial, Narrandera NSW
On 12 August 1944, Aircraftwoman Kiernan, an Aircraft Hand, was killed in a motor accident when an Army supply tender skidded and overturned, four miles on the Narrandera side from Yanco on the Leeton/Narrandera road. Four other WAAAF and two RAAF members were injured in the accident.
Involved in the accident were:
Private Selwyn John Bowen (NX94425) (Army) Discharged: 15 February 1946
Pilot Officer Russell John Hyland Bownas (432745) Discharged: 11 July 1946
Aircraftwoman Marjory Doreen Green (109695) Discharged: 8 March 1946
Private Ronald Edward Harris (NX190041) (Army) Discharged: 18 January 1946
Corporal Phyllis Jean Hockley (108592) Discharged: 18 December 1945
Aircraftwoman Nancye Anne Lewis (176711) Discharged: 11 February 1946
Aircraftwoman Rita Irene Kiernan (176710)
Aircraftwoman Heather Jean Downie Turner (101534) Discharged: 29 January 1947
Aircraftman Class I Robert Kingsley Wilson (164233) Discharged: 23 September 1948
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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/22/305
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line