LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Laurence Michael DEVITT
Service No: 10424
Born: Melbourne VIC, 5 October 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 May 1940
Unit: No. 12 Squadron
Died: Aircraft Accident: (No. 12 Squadron Vultee Vengeance aircraft A27-209), near Merauke, Dutch New Guinea, 5 March 1944, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William James Devitt and Johannah Devitt, of Richmond, Victoria
Roll of Honour: Richmond VIC
Remembered: Panel 7, Lae Memorial PNG
Remembered: Panel 100, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 5 March 1944 Vengeance aircraft A27-209 and A27-230 were flying in formation over the ocean. The aircraft changed course to avert a heavy cloud but A27-230 emerged alone. A27-230 then flew a reciprocal course and found an oil slick. A27-230 then recovered to Merauke.
The crew members of A27-209 were:
Flight Sergeant Lawrence Michael Devitt (10424) (Pilot)
Flying Officer Timothy Felix Hayes (426223) (Observer)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/9/271