LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Anthony Young COUSINS
Service No: 424737
Born: Murrumburrah NSW, 27 April 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 9 October 1942
Unit: No. 450 Squadron
Died: Air Operations (No. 450 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft FX842), Ravenna area Italy, 5 November 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Ravenna War Cemetery, Italy
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Athol Young Cousins and Mary Isabelle Cousins, of Canowindra, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Canowindra War Memorial Arch, Canowindra NSW
On 5 November 1944, Kittyhawk FX842 flown by Flight Sergeant Cousins was one of a formation of six aircraft detailed to attack an enemy strong point in the Ravenna area, Italy. The formation took off at 1445 hours and bombed the target at 1540 hours from a height of 7,500 feet to 1,500 feet. While in its bombing dive at about 4,000 feet, FX842 was seen to explode with an orange flash and black smoke. The remains of the aircraft continued down and hit the ground. Small arms fire was observed north-west of the target area.
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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/8/715
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line