LEST WE FORGET

Sergeant Douglas Wallace DESMOND

Service No: 405839
Born: Toowoomba QLD, 20 January 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 21 June 1941
Unit: No. 100 Squadron
Died: Air Operations: (No. 100 Squadron Beaufort aircraft A9-52), Port Moresby area, 27 June 1942, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Lae War Cemetery PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James and Jessie H. Desmond, of Brisbane, Queensland
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

A9-52 is the first Australian built Beaufort aircraft to be lost on air operations.

On the night of 26 June 1942 Beaufort A9-52 was detailed along with other aircraft from the Squadron to carry out a bombing raid on Salamaua and the aircraft took off from Port Moresby. At approximately 0400 hours Squadron Leader Sage called Port Moresby and asked for a Direction Finding Bearing and was given a second class bearing of 319 degrees. At 0430 hours a further bearing of 288 degrees was given and searchlights were focussed over the aerodrome to assist the pilot. There were no further messages after 0430 hours. Radar equipment located all other aircraft returning from the raid at approximately 30 minutes flying time from the aerodrome, but A9-52 was not able to be found. From Direction Finding bearings that were given it was apparent the aircraft had returned from the raid and was south of the high range between Lae and Port Moresby. The moon had set by 0430 hours and low cloud made Port Moresby aerodrome difficult to locate. It was considered unlikely that the aircraft could have carried out a forced landing either on the beach or water after the moonset, and in unfavourable weather conditions. The wreck of the aircraft and the remains of the crew members were later found about 60 miles from Port Moresby.

The crew members of A9-52 were:

Sergeant Douglas Wallace Desmond (405839) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Charles Forbes Patterson (401048) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Squadron Leader Charles Walter Lyndsay Sage (255) (Pilot)
Flying Officer Joseph Anderson Wormald (402812) (Observer)

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, 163/101/135

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