LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Andrew Frederick O’KEEFE MID
Service No: 266168
Born: Melbourne VIC, 21 April 1909
Enlisted in the RAAF: 8 June 1942
Unit: No. 77 Squadron
Awarded the Mentioned in Despatches (MID)
Died: Ground Accident: The Admiralties, Los Negros, Admiralty Islands, 23 March 1944, Aged 34 Years
Buried: Lae War Cemetery PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Andrew Stanislaus O’Keefe and Constance Mary O’Keefe, of Tooma, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Albury NSW
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 23 March 1944, Flying Officer O’Keefe (Administrative and Special Duties) died from injuries received from an unexpected explosion of a smoke bomb at Los Negros, Admiralty Islands. He had been experimenting with a smoke grenade in an attempt to formulate a plan whereby high explosive grenades containing chemicals could be used with petrol to burn out Japanese strong points. The grenade failed to detonate and as he walked out to remove the grenade it exploded and he was badly burned. He was admitted to the hospital at Hyane Harbour but died of his injuries.
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, 166/31/167