LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Neville Herbert PLAYFORD
Service No: 439635
Born: Concord NSW, 17 December 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 14 July 1943
Unit: No. 21 Squadron, Morotai
Died: Air Operations: (No. 21 Squadron Liberator aircraft A72-66), Halmaheras, 31 July 1945, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Herbert Henry and Alice Mary Grace Playford, of Concord, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Column 9, Ambon Memorial, Indonesia
Remembered: Panel 101, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Concord War Memorial, Concord NSW
Remembered: Commonwealth Bank of Australia Honour Rolls, Sydney NSW
On 31 July 1945, No. 21 Squadron Liberator A72-66 was tasked to strike at anti-aircraft positions at Lolobata, Halmaheras. After takeoff, nothing further was heard from the aircraft and it failed to return to base. The crew members of A72-66 were:
Flight Sergeant Aubrey Edward Burgess (443659) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Robert William Delahunt (439573) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Douglas Poultney Dewhurst (403780) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Jack Bonfield Faviell (403916) (Pilot)
Warrant Officer Bruce Vaughton Paech (416188) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Neville Herbert Playford (Navigator) (439635)
Flight Sergeant Gordon Malcolm Scott (23277) (Flight Engineer)
Pilot Officer William Joseph Stubbs (418199) (Co-Pilot)
Sergeant Ronald Jack Walker (439333) (Navigator)
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, 71
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line
Bibliography:
Nelmes, M.V. (Michael) Tocumwal to Tarakan: Australians and the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, Banner Books Belconnen ACT 2616, 1994
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Boston, Mitchell and Liberator in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992