LEST WE FORGET
Chaplain Fourth Class Hilford Charles EASTON
Service No: 423197
Born: Adelaide SA, 8 October 1913
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 January 1942 (at Sydney NSW)
Unit: No. 2 Squadron, Hughes NT
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 2 Squadron Mitchell aircraft A47-6), Perrin Island NT, 2 September 1944, Aged 30 Years
Buried: Adelaide River War Cemetery, NT
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George Frederick and Charlotte Lillian Easton; husband of Mavis Selma Easton, of Henty, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 98, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Gulgong ANZAC Memorial Park War Memorials, Gulgong NSW
On 2 September 1944, Mitchell A47-6 was forced to ditch off Perrin Island, NT. Two RAAF members were killed and the remainder were injured or unharmed. On board A47-6 were:
Chaplain Fourth Class Hilford Charles Easton (423197) Fatally injured
Flight Lieutenant Alfred James Higgins (416335) (Gunnery Leader) Seriously injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 8 November 1945
Warrant Officer Gordon Sydney James King (4795) (Fitter Armourer) Missing
Sergeant Gregory Reginald Jellis (431284) (Air Gunner) Uninjured, Discharged from the RAAF: 4 November 1945
Warrant Officer Keith Robert Milligan (406945) (Second Pilot) Uninjured, Discharged from the RAAF: 13 March 1946
Flying Officer Robert Leslie Park (418871) (Gunnery Officer) Slightly injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 2 October 1945
Flying Officer Vincent Peters (401016) (Navigator) Slightly injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 16 September 1946
Flight Lieutenant John Conway Simpson DFC (400558) (Pilot) Uninjured, Discharged from the RAAF: 21 February 1945
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 A9300, EASTON H C
Bibliography:
Bennett, J. (John William) Highest Traditions: the history of No. 2 Squadron RAAF, Australian Government Publishing Service, 1995