LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Charles Ronald NAPIER
Service No: 420247
Born: Leichardt NSW, 19 March 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 11 October 1941
Unit: No. 22 Squadron, Ward’s Strip PNG
Died: Air Operations: Advance to Buna (No. 22 Squadron Boston aircraft A28-22), Buna Airstrip PNG, 26 November 1942, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Charles William and Alice Maude Napier, of Leichhardt, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Leichardt NSW
Remembered: Panel 9, Port Moresby Memorial, PNG
Remembered: Panel 101, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Leichardt Memorial, Leichardt NSW
While on a bombing and strafing mission over Buna airfield on 26 November 1942, Boston A28-22 was hit by anti-aircraft fire and exploded and its three crew members were killed. Those crew members were:
Squadron Leader Kenneth Roy McDonald (250430) (Pilot)
Sergeant Charles Ronald Napier (420247) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Thomas Edward O’Neill (407451) (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 A705, 163/147/344
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Boston, Mitchell and Liberator in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992