LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Thomas Charles HOOPER
Service No: 405483
Born: Brisbane QLD, 19 January 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 March 1941
Unit: No. 8 Squadron, Kiriwina
Died: Air Operations: (No. 8 Squadron Beaufort aircraft A9-247), Rabaul PNG, 9 November 1943, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Thomas Brakenridge Hooper and Emily Hooper, of Clayfield, Queensland
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 35, Rabaul Memorial PNG
Remembered: Panel 99, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
A9-247 was one of three No. 8 Squadron Beaufort aircraft tasked to carry out a torpedo attack against enemy shipping in Simpson’s Harbour, Rabaul. A9-247 was last seen over Talili Bay and is believed to have come under heavy attack from anti-aircraft fire after it had delivered its attack.
The crew members of A9-247 were:
Flight Sergeant Geoffrey William Farnham Allen (412875) (Navigator)
Flying Officer Allan John Harrison (405191) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Thomas Charles Hooper (405483) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Squadron Leader Owen Price MID (271702) (Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 249