LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant Vernon William MORGAN
Service No: 550
Born: Wagin WA, 1 August 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 4 September 1939 (at Point Cook VIC)
Unit: No. 22 Squadron, Ward’s Strip
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 22 Squadron Boston aircraft A28-12), New Guinea, 10 November 1942, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Cyril William and Margaret Cecilia Morgan, of Claremont, Western Australia.
Roll of Honour: Claremont WA
Remembered: Panel 101, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cenotaph Undercroft, State War Memorial, Kings Park WA
On 10 November1942, Boston A28-12 was one of three aircraft that took off from Wards Strip detailed to carry out practice low level bombing and strafing attack on a hulk off Port Moresby. As A28-12 was making its run and about to release its bombs, an explosion took place and the aircraft caught fire. It then climbed to 800 feet, dived and crashed into the harbour. All the crew members were killed.
The crew members of A28-12 were:
Flying Officer John Harold Borland (405569) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Vernon William Morgan (550) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Ronald Thomas Power (420053) (Wireless Air Gunner)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 216
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Boston, Mitchell and Liberator in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992