LEST WE FORGET
Corporal John Ronald GORTON
Service No: 19218
Born: Melbourne VIC, 23 May 1914
Enlisted in the RAAF: 18 October 1940
Unit: No. 31 Squadron, Coomalie Creek NT
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 31 Squadron Beaufighter aircraft A19-116), Milingimbi NT, 25 September 1943, Aged 29 Years
Buried: Adelaide River War Cemetery, NT
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John Alfred and Emily Kate Gorton, of East Malvern, Victoria.
Roll of Honour: Melbourne VIC
Remembered: Panel 102, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Beaufighter A19-116 crashed just after takeoff at Milingimbi, killing all on board. Those killed were:
Leading Aircraftman Nathaniel Ross Beggs (40978) (Fitter IIE)
Corporal John Roland Gorton (19218) (Fitter IIE)
Flying Officer Ronald Arthur Hocking (39161) (Navigator)
Flying Officer Donald Gordon Taylor (406738) (Pilot)
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, 17; A705, 166/16/184
Bibliography:
Parnell, N.M. (Neville M.) Whispering Death: A history of the RAAF’s Beaufighter Squadrons, AH & AW Reed Terry Hills NSW, 1980
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1990