LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Francis Joseph DOYLE
Service No: 420615
Born: Melbourne VIC, 26 August 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 8 November 1941 (at Sydney NSW)
Unit: No. 34 Squadron
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 34 Squadron Dragon aircraft A34-47), near Wagga Wagga NSW, 17 April 1943, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of David and Catherine Josephine Doyle, of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 6, Sydney Memorial, Rookwood NSW
Remembered: Panel 103, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: St John’s Anglican Church RAAF A34-47 Memorial Cairn, Camden NSW
Remembered: Victory Memorial Gardens Cenotaph, Wagga Wagga NSW
The Cairn reads: In Memory of the Crew and Passengers of RAAF De Havilland Dragon A34-47 from No 34 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force. This plaque unveiled by the relatives, friends, searchers, RSL and the people of Camden in 2000.
No. 34 Squadron DeHavilland Dragon A34-47 disappeared on 17th April 1943 and was last seen near Werombi Post Office, heading south to Wagga Wagga. On board were:
Sergeant Douglas Brian Doyle (412236) (Pilot)
Sergeant Francis Joseph Doyle (420615) (Co-Pilot)
Flying Officer Geoffrey Hugh Lester (409154) (Passenger (Pilot))
First Lieutenant Horace Albert Teague (O-14229) (US Marine Corps) (Passenger)
Second Lieutenant Cecil Joseph Umstead (O-13899) (US Marine Corps) (Passenger)
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, 166/10/39
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line