LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Allan Robert DUEL
Service No: 425623
Born: Rockhampton QLD, 10 July 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 25 April 1942
Unit: No. 27 Operational Training Unit (RAF), RAF Lichfield, Staffordshire
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 27 Operational Training Unit Martinet aircraft HP384), Staffordshire, 5 June 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Chester (Blacon) Cemetery, Cheshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Robert and Gertrude Elizabeth Duel, of Banyo, Queensland. Australia
Roll of Honour: Banyo QLD
Remembered: Panel 121, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
At Pilot Officer Duel enlisted from Queensland, it is not clear why he has been included on the SA Memorial. The are no other members with the name and initials Duel A R listed as WWII casualties.
On the 5th June 1944, Martinet HP384 took off from RAF Lichfield for local flying including circuits and landings. Flight Sergeant McSweeney was making his first flight in a Martinet, though he was a fully qualified Wellington pilot. At 1610 hours the aircraft was seen to emerge from cloud in a spin, and without recovering, strike the ground. Both the crew members were killed.
The crew members of HP384 were:
Pilot Officer Allan Robert Duel (425623) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Gerald Beaumont McSweeney (425346) (Pilot)
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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/10/247