LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Victor Frederick BISHOP
Service No: NX82072 (Australian Army)
Born: Sydney NSW, 1 March 1914
Enlisted in the Army: 5 January 1942
Unit: No. 5 Movement Control Group
Died: Aircraft Accident (21st Troop Carrier Squadron USAAF Douglas aircraft 42-23420), near Springsure QLD, 16 November 1943, Aged 32 Years
Buried: Rockhampton War Cemetery, QLD
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John and Clarissa Angelina Bishop; husband of Beatrice Miriam Bishop, of Queenscliff, New South Wales. A.C.I.A.
Roll of Honour: Ashfield NSW
Remembered: Panel 10, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 16 November 1943, Dakota 42-23420 departed Batchelor, Northern Territory for Archerfield, Queensland to travel via Gorrie, Daly Waters and Cloncurry. The aircraft is believed to have broken up during a violent storm and all on board were killed with debris found south of Springsure, Queensland. On board were five US Army crew members, seven RAAF members and seven Australian Army members.
United States Army Casualties (Crew)
Sergeant Robert L Adkins (34209372) (Crew Member)
Second Lieutenant Raymond E. Anglin (Pilot and Aircraft Captain) (O-665501)
Sergeant Harold Baumstein (11102543) (Radio Operator)
Second Lieutenant Joseph W. Kennedy (Co-pilot) (O-680036)
Sergeant Frank J Ropinski (16046060) (Flight Engineer)
RAAF Casualties
Flight Lieutenant Roy Edgar Abbott (264204) Headquarters North East Area, Townsville QLD
Corporal William Brady (35720) No. 105 Fighter Section, Darwin
Leading Aircraftman John Given Maxwell (21638) No. 9 Replenishing Centre, Birdum NT
Corporal Francis Paul Morris (71310) No. 110 Fighter Control Unit, Darwin NT
Sergeant Ronald Keith Pitchford (410850) No. 55 Operational Base Unit, Birdum NT
Leading Aircraftman Stanley Kirk Sims (28071) No. 452 Squadron
Flight Lieutenant Albert Ernest Watkin (405265) No. 452 Squadron
Australian Army Casualties
Sergeant Victor Frederick Bishop (NX82072) No. 5 Movement Control Group
Sergeant Trevor William Davey (VX69200) No. 2 Movement Control Group
Gunner William Howard Dorman (QX24775) No. 38 Heavy Anti Aircraft Battery
Lieutenant Harley Horace Lockie (NX151680) No. 12 Advance Ordnance Depot
Private Andrew Henry Mildren (QX52001) No. 1 Training Battalion AASC
Sergeant William Joseph Parker (NX133213) Headquarters NT Force
Lieutenant Ross Rowsell (NX107453) No. 103 Tank Attack 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 B883, NX82072; A9845, 23