LEST WE FORGET
Private Edward John COLLINS
Service No: VX50622 (Australian Army)
Born: Northcote VIC, 2 October 1920
Enlisted in the Army: 6 March 1941
Unit: 2/188 Supply Depot Platoon AASC
Died: Aircraft Accident: (No. 36 Squadron Dakota aircraft A65-34), New Guinea, 17 February 1945, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Lae War Cemetery, PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William John and Louisa Mary Ann Collins, of Northcote, Victoria
Roll of Honour: Northcote VIC
Remembered: Panel 80, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 17 February 1945, Dakota A65-34 was engaged in a supply dropping mission to commandos in the Tadji area of New Guinea and crashed in the mountains in that area. On board the aircraft were:
Flight Sergeant Donald Gordon Campbell (418718) (Third Pilot) Died 17 February 1945
Private Edward John Collins (VX50622) (Australian Army) (Air Supplier) Died 17 February 1945
Corporal Arthur Edward Guy (142679) (Cypher Assistant acting Air Supplier) Died 17 February 1945
Corporal Keith Hardham (129265) (Acting Air Supplier) Died 18 February 1945
Private Joseph George Law (TX13582) (Australian Army) (Air Supplier) Seriously injured, Discharged from the Army: 11 October 1945
Squadron Leader Lewis Keith Jackson (261723) (Pilot) Seriously injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 22 May 1946
Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Robert Charles Mathews (Second Pilot) (407125) Died 20 February 1945
Sergeant Harry Maurice Whaling (NX18480) (Australian Army) (Air Supplier) Died 17 February 1945
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, VX50622; A9845, 117
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Dakota, Hercules and Caribou in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1990