LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Ross Norman HARDING
Service No: 423286
Born: Sydney NSW, 18 October 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 June 1942
Unit: No. 145 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 145 Squadron Spitfire aircraft MT777), Italy, 21 November 1944, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Ancona War Cemetery, Italy
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Eric James and Ruby Maude Harding, of Dee Why, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 123, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Manly ANZAC War Memorial, Manly NSW
On 21 November 1944 Flight Sergeant Harding took off flying Spitfire MT777 detailed to carry out an operational sortie and attack enemy strong points in the Forley Faenza area of Italy. While attacking the target, the bomb was released from 20 feet and exploded. The aircraft caught alight and disintegrated, and Flight Sergeant Harding was killed.
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, 166/17/861
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line