LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant George Vallence McMURRAY
Service No: 409732
Born: Moonee Ponds VIC, 22 April 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 10 October 1941
Unit: No. 111 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 111 Squadron Spitfire aircraft JK217), Italy, 4 September 1943, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Salerno War Cemetery, Italy
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Harry Dougan and Rita Ruth McMurray, of Tarneit, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 126, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 4 September 1943 JK217 was on patrol with 11 other aircraft of the Squadron over the Straits of Messina, Sicily, when a formation of over 20 enemy aircraft was encountered. During the combat JK217 was seen to roll on its back and dive vertically to the ground from about 1,000 feet. The aircraft crashed near Deliamova about 12 miles north east of Reggio, Italy and Flight Sergeant McMurray was killed.
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, 166/26/228