LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Alfred Frank ROWE
Service No: 428793
Born: Eastwood NSW, 25 August 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 10 October 1942
Unit: No. 165 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 165 Squadron Mustang aircraft FB394), Netherlands, 13 March 1945, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Albert Phillip and Gladys Rowe, of Eastwood, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Eastwood NSW
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Eastwood War Memorial, Eastwood NSW
Remembered: Eastwood Uniting Church World war II Honour Rolls, Eastwood NSW
When returning from operations on 13 March 1945, Flying Officer Rowe flying No. 2 in his Section, reported that black smoke was coming from the engine and a loss of boost. He could not get more than 4 pounds. Squadron Leader Eale (RAF) flew alongside the aircraft and noted the starboard side covered with oil. An aircraft was detailed to escort Rowe back to the nearest base which was Ursel in Belgium. Shortly after, the engine began streaming black and white smoke with the motor cutting completely. The Leader of the formation gave instructions for the Squadron to return to base and joined Flying Officer Rowe himself. Shortly after, the engine began streaming black and white smoke with the motor cutting out completely. Rowe baled out over the sea and was last seen in a dinghy about 25 miles south west of The Hague. The Group Captain Commanding RAF Station North Weald then reported: “Squadron Leader Earle after seeing Rowe in the dinghy climbed up to give a fix and lost the dinghy in the haze. Air Sea Rescue later picked up a German who might throw some light on Rowe’s fate.”
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, 166/36/503
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line