LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Richard Joseph Heuston STRANTZEN
Service No: 403823
Born: Sydney NSW, 17 May 1913
Enlisted in the RAAF: 3 March 1941
Unit: No. 682 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 682 Squadron Spitfire aircraft RM639), south central Europe, 8 October 1944, Aged 31 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Vol Adolph and Esther Strantzen; husband of Irene Laura Strantzen, of Lane Cove, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 16, Column 1, Malta Memorial, Malta
Remembered: Panel 131, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Australia Remembers 1945-1995 Memorial, Lane Cove NSW
On 8 October 1944 Spitfire RM639 was detailed to carry out a photo reconnaissance of Vienna. RM639 carried a 90 gallon overload tank which provided enough fuel for a 550 mile sortie. The weather was good for flying. The aircraft did not return to base and it was assumed that it was lost due to enemy action. Overdue procedures were initiated with no result. Following post war enquiries and investigations, it was recorded in 1949 that Flying Officer Strantzen had no known grave.
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, 166/38/719
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line