LEST WE FORGET

Flight Lieutenant Archibald MacPherson FOWLER

Service No: 685
Born: Brunswick VIC, 1 August 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 3 February 1936
Unit: No. 2 Squadron, Hughes NT
Died: Air Operations: (No. 2 Squadron Hudson aircraft A16-195), Timor, 9 July 1943, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Ambon War Cemetery, Indonesia
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Colin Lawson Fowler and Isabel Fowler; husband of Vera Esme Iris Fowler, of Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Bairnsdale VIC
Remembered: Panel 98, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

On 9 July 1943 the new Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader Williams’ first operation was a four-aircraft raid back to Penfoei aerodrome led by Flight Lieutenant Sidney Austin DFC (260359) (Discharged: 1 July 1947) with Williams flying at the rear. The flight encountered abysmal weather approaching Timor, and although the other aircraft turned back, nothing more was heard from Williams and his crew. A16-195 crashed in the Noembena area of Dutch Timor, and all the crew members were killed.

The crew members of A16-195 were:

Flight Sergeant Donald Craig Farmer (416251) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Archibald McPherson Fowler (685) (Navigator Bomb Aimer)
Flying Officer Walter Allan Hepworth (406851) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Robert Collyer Lindsey DFM (406218) (Wireless Air Gunner, Gunnery Leader)
Squadron Leader Cyril Clarence Williams (377) (Pilot)

References:

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Bennett, J. (John William) Highest Traditions: the history of No. 2 Squadron RAAF, Australian Government Publishing Service, 1995
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, 137

Bibliography:

Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992

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