LEST WE FORGET
Warrant Officer Harrie Irwin PINKERTON
Service No: 423255
Born: Tamworth NSW, 7 September 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 June 1942
Unit: No. 253 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 253 Squadron Spitfire aircraft LZ915), off the Italian Coast, 17 March 1945, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Harrie Hunter Pinkerton and Sarah Millicent Pinkerton, of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 19, Column 2, Malta Memorial, Malta
Remembered: Panel 128, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 17 March 1945 Spitfire LZ915 was one of a section of four squadron aircraft detailed to attack enemy gun positions on the northern tip of Rab Island approximately 40 miles south south east of Fiume, Italy, in position 044.45N 014.50E. The first three aircraft of the Section over the target experienced no anti-aircraft fire, but as No. 3 broke away he was called up by LZ 915 at No. 4 position, and on looking back saw the aircraft was at 150 feet and streaming white smoke. Warrant Officer Pinkerton said he was going to bale out, but was ordered to climb first. LZ915 appeared unable to gain sufficient height, and commenced a gentle glide towards the sea. There was no further radio conversation with LZ915 which entered the sea slightly tail down, travelled a few yards on the water and then stood on its nose before disappearing a few seconds later. The other aircraft carried out a thorough search of the area, but Warrant Officer Pinkerton was not seen again. Nothing more was seen of the LZ915 apart from a long range fuel tank which came to the surface and then disappeared after ten minutes. It was later recorded that Warrant Officer Pinkerton had lost his life at sea.
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, 166/32/306