LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman James Moore CUNNEEN
Service No: 5972
Born: Boulder WA, 17 June 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 16 January 1940 (at RAAF Station Laverton VIC)
Unit: No. 13 Squadron, Laha
Died: Air Operations: (No. 13 Squadron Hudson aircraft A16-64), Sulawesi, 19 January 1942, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John Laurence and Mary Florence Cunneen, of Mount Monger, Western Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Column 10, Ambon Memorial, Indonesia
Remembered: Panel 100, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 19 January 1942 Flight Lieutenant Maurice Willing in A16-64 set out to photograph enemy shipping at Kema Bay near Manado. He was last seen being chased into cloud by Zeros. He and his crew were posted missing.
Extract from Grantham, S. R. (Sidney Richard) (6590) The 13 Squadron Story, S.R. Grantham, Dee Why NSW 2099, 1991 – Page 43
The crew members of A16-64 were:
Leading Aircraftman James Moore Cunneen (5972) (Wireless Operator)
Sergeant William Henry Field (407786) (Second Pilot)
Sergeant Reginald Dixon Rutter (404218) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Maurice Philip Willing (218) (Pilot)
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 A705, 163/99/72
Bibliography:
Vincent, D. (David) The RAAF Hudson Story Book 1, D. Vincent Highbury SA 5089, 1989
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992