LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Hugh McFADDEN
Service No: 422017
Born: Rozelle NSW, 29 October 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 April 1942
Unit: No. 77 Squadron
Died: Air Operations: (No. 77 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-900), Morotai, 23 April 1945, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Ambon War Cemetery, Indonesia
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James Joseph and Eileen McFadden, of Miller’s Point. New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 23 April 1945, Kittyhawk A29-900 flown by Flight Lieutenant McFadden took off from Morotai on a bombing mission with three other aircraft detailed to bomb Djailolo. Each aircraft was carrying 1 x 500 lb (pound) (225 kg) bomb under each main plane. When A29-900 became airborne, the bomb under the starboard wing fell from its rack and exploded on impact. A29-900 crashed in flames and Flight Lieutenant McFadden was killed. Leading Aircraftman Kevin Vincent Sheahan (118975) of No. 22 Squadron was fatally injured when the bomb detonated.
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, 166/26/898