LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Geoffrey William Farnham ALLEN
Service No: 412875
Born: Stanmore NSW, 20 August 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 15 August 1941
Unit: No. 8 Squadron, Kiriwina
Died: Air Operations (No. 8 Squadron Beaufort aircraft A9-247), Rabaul PNG, 9 November 1943, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Frederick Thomas Allen and Eva Allen; husband of Maysie Elaine Allen, of Subiaco, Western Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 35, Rabaul Memorial PNG
Remembered: Panel 99, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Commonwealth Bank of Australia Honour Rolls, Sydney NSW
A9-247 was one of three No. 8 Squadron Beaufort aircraft tasked to carry out a torpedo attack against enemy shipping in Simpson’s Harbour, Rabaul. A9-247 was last seen over Talili Bay and is believed to have come under heavy attack from anti-aircraft fire after it had delivered its attack.
The crew members of A9-247 were:
Flight Sergeant Geoffrey William Farnham Allen (412875) (Navigator)
Flying Officer Allan John Harrison (405191) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Thomas Charles Hooper (405483) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Squadron Leader Owen Price MID (271702) (Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 249
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line