LEST WE FORGET
Warrant Officer John Charles BATES
Service No: 409495
Born: Little River VIC, 28 May 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 12 September 1941
Unit: No. 75 Squadron, Noemfoor Island
Died: Aircraft Accident: (No. 75 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-432), 10 October 1944, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George and May Victoria T. Bates, of Little River, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Column 9, Ambon Memorial, Indonesia
Remembered: Panel 103, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 10th October, four aircraft from No. 75 Squadron, after completing a mission along the coast
of Ceram, ran into heavy weather at an altitude of 8,000 feet when east of Misool Island. The aircraft which were piloted by Flight Lieutenant Allan Wallace Campbell Morrison MID (416186), Flight Sergeant Roberts (1), Flying Officer Andrew (2) and Warrant Officer John Charles Bates (409495) became separated. Coming through the clouds at 1,000 feet and unable to find the other aircraft Roberts flew to Middleburg (Dutch New Guinea) and reported them missing. Searching aircraft were sent out then and on the following days. On the 12th Andrew was seen by several aircraft from No. 80 Squadron and later in the day was rescued by a Catalina. He could give no information on the other members of the missing flight and despite repeated searches, no trace was found of them. Andrew had lost height and at 2,000 feet, being still in cloud, decided to bail out. He was slightly injured on landing, but fortunately met friendly natives who took care of him until rescued.
(1) Flying Officer Mervyn Arthur Roberts (417428) was discharged from the RAAF on 16 August 1946.
(2) Flight Lieutenant Donald Edward Andrew (403301) was discharged from the RAAF on 9 October 1945.
Extract from Odgers, G.J. (George James) (VX127783) Air War Against Japan 1943-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1957 – Page 303
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 A9845, 157
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Spitfire, Mustang and Kittyhawk in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1988