LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant John Alexander GRAHAM
Service No: 414374
Born: Gin Gin QLD, 12 December 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 13 September 1941
Unit: 319th Bomber Squadron (USAAF)
Died: Air Operations: (319th Bomber Squadron Liberator aircraft 41-23688), near Macassar, 23 June 1943, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Robert Finlay Graham and Tasma Valerie Graham, of Gin Gin, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 9, Ambon Memorial, Indonesia
Remembered: Panel 134, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Liberator 41-23688 was one of 16 aircraft that had completed a bombing mission over Macassar, Celebes, on 23 June 1943. Approximately 10 miles west of Macassar at 0230Z a Nate type enemy aircraft rammed into the wing of Liberator 23688, causing a flat spin from 9,000 feet, and 41-23688 crashed into sea 3 to 5 miles from shore. No parachutes were seen. The incident was witnessed by Lieutenant Roth (USAAF), the pilot of the aircraft directly behind 41-23688.
The crew members of 41-23688 were:
Sergeant Robert F Cole (39083490) (USAAF) (Crew Member)
First Lieutenant Thomas H Durkin (O-662252) (USAAF) (Co-Pilot)
Sergeant Robert K Enders (6911395) (USAAF) (Crew Member)
Sergeant John Alexander Graham (414374) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Frank A Huspeth (34257651) (USAAF) (Crew Member)
Sergeant Harold Muscato (37112939) (USAAF) (Crew Member)
Captain Roy W Olsen (O-437592) (USAAF) (Pilot)
Second Lieutenant Russell K Setterblade (O-733474) (USAAF) (Navigator)
Sergeant William C Simon (19074237) (USAAF) (Crew Member)
Second Lieutenant Kenneth F Strong (O-662614) (USAAF) (Bombardier)
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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/16/112
PacificWrecks.com Website
Bibliography:
Nelmes, M.V. (Michael) Tocumwal to Tarakan: Australians and the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, Banner Books Belconnen ACT 2616, 1994