LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Frank McLaurin BARTLETT
Service No: 265197
Born: Romsey, England, 16 March 1908
Enlisted in the RAAF: 13 April 1942 (at Sydney NSW)
Unit: No. 25 Operational Base Unit, Cairns QLD
Died: Aircraft Accident (21st Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Transport Group USAAF Dakota aircraft 41-18648), near Monto QLD, 21 November 1943, Aged 35 Years
Buried: Bundaberg General Cemetery, QLD
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Dr. Ralph Clarke Bartlett and Helen Bartlett; husband of Minola Kathleen Bartlett, of London, England. B.A. (Cantab.)
Roll of Honour: Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 113, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Flying Officer Bartlett served in the Administrative and Special Duties (ASD) Branch.
On 21 November 1943, Dakota 41-18648 disappeared during a flight from Rockhampton to Brisbane. The wreckage was located in 1948. It appeared that the aircraft may have broken up in flight likely due to weather conditions and there that there had been a fire on the ground.
On board the aircraft were:
Crew members:
Staff Sergeant Everett Ahmann (Flight Engineer) (US Army)
First Lieutenant Victor Gibson (Pilot) (US Army)
Corporal John Guigno (Radio Operator) (US Army)
Second Lieutenant Michael L Reitman (Co-Pilot) (US Army)
Passengers:
Flying Officer Frank McLaurin Bartlett (265197) (No. 25 Operational Base Unit)
Technical Sergeant T.G. Cucciaro (US Army)
Leading Aircraftman Hector Richard Hore (126243) (No. 20 Squadron)
Sergeant Jack Ernest Kerr (NX125184) (Australian Army) (165 General Transport Company)
Sergeant Albert William Lawrence (WX16521) (Australian Army) (2/4 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment RAA)
Sergeant Hugh John McClean (NX151913) (Australian Army) (HQ Moresby Base Sub Area)
Sergeant Philip Ernest Nicholls (SX6040) (Australian Army) (Accounts Office QLD L of C)
Technician Fifth Grade Albert E. Peg low (US Army)
Gunner Thomas Layton Vinecombe (VX37247) (Australian Army) (2/3 Composite Anti Aircraft Regiment RAA)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
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, 166/5/353