LEST WE FORGET

Sergeant Alfred John Archibald BUTLER

Service No: 400380
Born: Melbourne VIC, 16 October 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 August 1940
Unit: No. 8 Squadron, Kota Bharu, Malaya
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 8 Squadron Hudson aircraft A16-49), Malaya, 14 February 1941, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Alfred Butler, and of Jessie Florence Butler, of Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Essendon VIC
Remembered: Column 412, Singapore Memorial, Singapore
Remembered: Panel 99, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

Hudson A16-49 left Kota Bharu, Malaya, about 1415 hours on the 14th February 1941, for instrument flying training. The aircraft was last seen over Kualasemarnk at 0720 hours flying north. The flight was scheduled to finish at 1530 hours. The aircraft was reported overdue and extensive but unsuccessful searches were carried out. The aircraft crashed between the Islands of Perhentian and Great Redang, Malaya, on 14th February 1941. Four Malayans said an aircraft had crashed into the sea on the afternoon of 14th February. Portions of the aircraft were retrieved and returned to Kota Bharu. A Court of Inquiry found that the cause of the accident was due to the aircraft stalling and subsequently spinning into the sea and that the occupants were missing and were presumed lost.
The aircraft had crashed into the sea approximately 3 miles north west of Pulau Redang off the North East coast of Malaya into 20 fathoms of water. The recovery of the anti-icing tank from the Hudson was consistent with the aircraft striking the water with considerable force.

The crew members of A16-49 were:

Flight Lieutenant Peter Robert Blackmore Barnes (1466) (Pilot)
Sergeant Alfred John Archibald Butler (400380) (Air Gunner)
Corporal Arthur Russell Campbell (3650) (Wireless Operator)
Corporal Ronald Stanley Rose (3668) (Wireless Operator)
Flying Officer Kevin Francis Ryan (672) (Second Pilot)

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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/94/114

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