LEST WE FORGET
Warrant Officer Onslow Harold Maxwell SHEPHERD
Service No: 411958
Born: Nowra NSW, 16 April 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 21 June 1941
Unit: No. 93 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 93 Squadron Spitfire aircraft MA636), off the Italian Coast, 27 January 1944, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Richard Shepherd, and of Elizabeth Jane Shepherd, of Bomaderry, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 16, Column 1, Malta Memorial, Malta
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Honour Roll of Old Newingtonians, Stanmore NSW
Spitfire MA636 flown by Warrant Officer Shepherd was one of eight aircraft of the Squadron detailed to carry out a patrol over the Anzio Beach Head area on the west coast of Italy about 32 miles south east of Rome. The aircraft took off at 1315 hours on 27 January 1944. At about 1345 hours and flying north-west at 17,000 feet, the formation sighted eight ME109s flying south east at 15,000 feet. Also reported were several FW190s in the area. The formation engaged the enemy and MA636 which failed to return to base was last seen as it went into attack.
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, 166/37/309
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line