LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Reginald Peter LEEHY
Service No: 412067
Born: Barraba NSW, 2 August 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 21 June 1941
Unit: No. 18 Squadron
Died: Air Operations: (No. 18 Squadron Mitchell aircraft NS147), near Saumlaki, 21 May 1943, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Thomas and Emily Margaret Leehy, of Barraba, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River NT
Remembered: Panel 101, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Barraba and District War Memorial, Barraba NSW
At about 1115 hours on 21 May 1943, Mitchell NS147 was shot down by ground fire while making a bombing run on the town of Saumlaki, Moluccas (Maluku). NS147 was hit in the starboard engine, caught fire and crashed into deep water in Saumlaki Bay. One parachute was seen to leave the aircraft but the identity of the parachutist was impossible to determine.
The crew members NS147 were:
Ensign A B Andela (NEIAF) (Bombardier)
Second Lieutenant L Bal (NEIAF) (Pilot)
Sergeant van Ginkel (92376) (NEIAF) (Wireless Operator)
Sergeant Hoogeveld (93750) (NEIAF) (Second Pilot)
First Lieutenant P Kruijnk (NEIAF) (Fire Control Officer)
Sergeant Reginald Peter Leehy (412076) (Wireless Air 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
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 24
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line
Bibliography:
Hurst, D. (Doug) The Fourth Ally: The Dutch forces in Australia in WWII, Doug Hurst, Canberra, 2001