LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Robert John FLETCHER
Service No: 428600
Born: Gordon NSW, 1 September 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 10 October 1942
Unit: No. 100 Squadron, Tadji, PNG
Died: Air Operations: (No. 100 Squadron Beaufort aircraft A9-667), New Guinea, 2 April 1945, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Robert Henry and Jessie Mary Fletcher, of Sydney, New South Wales.
Roll of Honour: Gordon NSW
Remembered: Panel 6, Lae Memorial, PNG
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Ku-ring-gai World War II Book of Remembrance, Gordon NSW
No. 100 Squadron lost another two Beauforts (A9-493 and A9-667) in a mid-air collision on 2 April, shortly after the aircraft had taken off on a bombing mission. The aircraft, which crashed into the sea, were piloted by F-Lt’s I. H. Fielding (of Mentone, Vic) and E. E. Crisp (Boulder, WA). Wing Commander Hugh Augustine Conaghan (O387), who was leading the mission, ordered the remaining aircraft to return to base. Searches were made but, although wreckage was found, there was no sign of any survivor.
Extract from Odgers, G.J. (George James) (VX127783) Air War Against Japan 1943-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1957 – Page 342
The crew members of A9-667 were:
Flight Lieutenant Ian Harris Fielding (409038) (Pilot)
Flying Officer Robert John Fletcher (428699) (Observer)
Flight Sergeant Robert Lambert (442351) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Graham Vass Manger (401984) (Navigator Bomb Aimer, Supernumerary)
Flying Officer Ernest Richard Negus (422872) (Wireless Air Gunner)
The crew members of A9-493 were:
Flight Lieutenant Eric Ernest Crisp (415620) (Pilot)
Flight Lieutenant Jack Thorpe Hughes (406748) (Observer)
Flight Lieutenant Cedric Alfred Venner Horne (415733) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant George Laurie Park (418562) (Wireless Air Gunner)
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 A9845, 249
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line