LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Oswald John CHANNON
Service No: 411286
Born: Wyalong NSW, 23 May 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 28 April 1941
Unit: No. 75 Squadron, Port Moresby PNG
Died: Air Operations (No. 75 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-43), Port Moresby, 24 April 1942, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Herbert John and Emily May Channon, of Manly, New South Wales.
Roll of Honour: Manly NSW
Remembered: Panel 103, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Goulburn-Mulwaree Honour Roll 1939-1972, Goulburn NSW
Remembered: Manly ANZAC War Memorial, Manly NSW
Pilot Officer Channon’s combat record claims are one fighter damaged (28 March 1942), one fighter damaged (5 April 1942) and one fighter destroyed and one fighter probably destroyed (13 April 1942). In combat on 13 April 1942, Flying Officer Davies (406124) was killed.
On 24 April 1942, No. 75 Squadron lost 3 of 6 Kittyhawks which intercepted a large formation of Zeros over Port Moresby. Channon, who led a flight of four, was killed when his aircraft was shot down. Forced down, Flight Sergeant Butler (1) landed at high speed in a patch of kunai grass with his undercarriage still retracted, but he escaped injury. Flight Sergeant Crawford (2) also escaped when he was forced down into the sea several miles from Port Moresby after a bullet from an attacking Zero had shot off his throat microphone and seared his neck. In this combat Flight Lieutenant Jackson (3) shot down another Zero.
(1) Flying Officer Michael Seymour Butler (407220) was discharged from the RAAF on 5 July 1945.
(2) Flight Lieutenant Robert William Crawford DFC (402642) (O22647) was discharged from the RAAF on 19 December 1953.
(3) Squadron Leader Leslie Douglas Jackson DFC & Bar (270520) was discharged from the RAAF on 8 February 1946.
Extract from Gillison, D.N. (Douglas Napier) (254475) Royal Australian Air Force 1939-1942, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1962 – Page 546
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 A9300, CHANNON O J
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line
Bibliography:
Wilson, D. (David) The Decisive Factor: 75 and 76 squadrons Port Moresby and Milne Bay 1942, Banner Books Brunswick VIC 3056, 1991
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Spitfire, Mustang and Kittyhawk in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1988