LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Leslie Lancedene HENSTRIDGE
Service No: 416497
Born: Snowtown SA, 4 September 1912
Enlisted in the RAAF: 23 June 1941
Unit: No. 11 Squadron, Bowen QLD
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 11 Squadron Catalina aircraft A24-36), Cairns QLD, 13 April 1943, Aged 30 Years
Buried: Cairns Cemetery, QLD
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Francis Leslie and Amy Gertrude Henstridge, of Parkside, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Balaklava SA
Remembered: Panel 100, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Remembered: Catalina Base Memorial, Rathmines NSW
Remembered: Rathmines Memorial Bowling Club, Rathmines NSW
At 0540 hours on 13 April 1943, A24-36 crashed in Cairns Harbour while attempting a forced landing, believed to have been caused by a fuel shortage. The crew members were:
Leading Aircraftman Murray Lockhardt Byham (51514) (Armourer / Air Gunner) Seriously injured, Discharged from the RAAF 13 June 1944
Sergeant Lenard Carr (416206) (Second Pilot) No. 20 Squadron
Flying Officer Leslie Lancedene Henstridge (416497) (Wireless Air Gunner) No. 11 Squadron
Flight Lieutenant Arnold Hinchliffe (411106) (Pilot) No. 11 Squadron
Sergeant James Vernon Stothard Lahey (405743) (Navigator) No. 20 Squadron
Corporal Harold McGillivray (19268) (Fitter II Engines / Air Gunner) No. 20 Squadron
Leading Aircraftman Malcolm Frederick Merrett (19710) (Fitter II Engines / Air Gunner) No. 20 Squadron
Sergeant George Geoffrey Suckling (401056) (Wireless Air Gunner) Seriously injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 22 June 1945
Corporal Lawrence Edwin Webber (34830) (Fitter II Airframe / Air Gunner) Slightly injured, discharged from the RAAF: 15 February 1946
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, 146
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line