LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant James McKenzie DILLON
Service No: 427503
Born: Ascot Vale VIC, 29 June 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 19 July 1942 (at Perth WA)
Unit: No. 166 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Kirmington, Lincolnshire
Died: Air Operations: (No. 166 Squadron Lancaster aircraft LM722), Germany, 23 September 1944, Aged 29 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Stanley and Catherine Grace Dillon; husband of Mary Veronica Dillon, of South Como, Western Australia.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 260, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 121, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cenotaph Undercroft, State War Memorial, Kings Park WA
Lancaster LM722 of 166 Squadron took off from Kirmington on 23 September 1944, being one off twenty three squadron aircraft to attack Neuss, Germany. There was moderate heavy anti-aircraft fire and some enemy fighter opposition, and aircraft were seen shot down over the target in several combats. Nothing was heard from LM 722 after take off and it did not return to base. Following post war enquiries and investigations, it was recorded in 1949 that the missing crew had no known grave.
The crew members of LM 722 were:
Sergeant Cyril Leon Caston (1627211) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Flying Officer Forbes Cameron (153722) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Flying Officer John Glyn Davies (175652) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant James McKenzie Dillon (427503) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Sergeant Robert Leigh (2210791) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant Arthur Rollinson (1622914) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Roger Brockwell Ward (1808911) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner)
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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/9/410