LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer John Harold BORLAND
Service No: 405569
Born: Yarragon VIC, 13 October 1914
Enlisted in the RAAF: 26 April 1941 (at Brisbane QLD)
Unit: No. 22 Squadron, Ward’s Strip
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 22 Squadron Boston aircraft A28-12), New Guinea, 10 November 1942, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John William and Ruby Frances Borland; husband of Ethel Mary Borland, of Caloundra, Queensland.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 101, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 10 November1942, Boston A28-12 was one of three aircraft that took off from Wards Strip detailed to carry out practice low level bombing and strafing attack on a hulk off Port Moresby. As A28-12 was making its run and about to release its bombs, an explosion took place and the aircraft caught fire. It then climbed to 800 feet, dived and crashed into the harbour. All the crew members were killed.
The crew members of A28-12 were:
Flying Officer John Harold Borland (405569) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Vernon William Morgan (550) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Ronald Thomas Power (420053) (Wireless Air Gunner)
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, 216
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Boston, Mitchell and Liberator in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992