LEST WE FORGET
Warrant Officer Rhubert Mellor AUSTIN
Service No: 405169
Born: Gympie QLD, 4 September 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 2 February 1941
Unit: No. 450 Squadron
Died: Air Operations: (No. 450 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft FR251), Sicily, 3 August 1943, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Catania War Cemetery, Sicily, Italy
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Augustus Gregory Douglas and Edith Emily Mary Austin, of Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Gympie QLD
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 3 August 1943, Kittyhawk FR251 flown by Warrant Officer Austin was one of a four aircraft formation each carrying two 250 lb bombs. The formation took off took off at 1844 hours to carry out a bombing and strafing attack on enemy motor transport on roads north of Mt Etna, Sicily. A target of enemy transport was bombed just north of Bronte and later a target of six motor transports moving north was strafed. One of the trucks believed to be carrying ammunition exploded and an Machine Gun post was strafed. Intense Breda and small arms fire was encountered by the formation. FR251 was last seen flying in formation at approximately 1915 hours just prior to going down to strafe. Others did not see what happened to the aircraft which failed to return to base.
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, 166/4/56
Bibliography:
Ilbery, P.L.T. (Peter Leslie Thomas) (422957) Hatching an Air Force: 2SFTS, 5SFTS, 1BFTS Uranquinty and Wagga Wagga, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4650, 2002