LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Hector Richard HORE
Service No: 126243
Born: Albury NSW, 18 April 1909
Enlisted in the RAAF: 21 January 1943 (at Melbourne VIC)
Unit: No. 20 Squadron
Died: Aircraft Accident (21st Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Transport Group USAAF Dakota aircraft 41-18648), near Monto QLD, 21 November 1943, Aged 34 Years
Buried: Bundaberg General Cemetery, QLD
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John Richard and Ester Essie Hore; husband of Katie Margurite Florence Hore, of Bentleigh, Victoria
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 101, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Catalina Base Memorial, Rathmines NSW
Remembered: Rathmines Memorial Bowling Club, Rathmines NSW
On 21 November 1943, Dakota 41-18648 disappeared during a flight from Rockhampton to Brisbane. The wreckage was located in 1948. It appeared that the aircraft may have broken up in flight likely due to weather conditions and there that there had been a fire on the ground.
On board the aircraft were:
Crew members:
Staff Sergeant Everett Ahmann (Flight Engineer) (US Army)
First Lieutenant Victor Gibson (Pilot) (US Army)
Corporal John Guigno (Radio Operator) (US Army)
Second Lieutenant Michael L Reitman (Co-Pilot) (US Army)
Passengers:
Flying Officer Frank McLaurin Bartlett (265197) (No. 25 Operational Base Unit)
Technical Sergeant T.G. Cucciaro (US Army)
Leading Aircraftman Hector Richard Hore (126243) (No. 20 Squadron)
Sergeant Jack Ernest Kerr (NX125184) (Australian Army) (165 General Transport Company)
Sergeant Albert William Lawrence (WX16521) (Australian Army) (2/4 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment RAA)
Sergeant Hugh John McClean (NX151913) (Australian Army) (HQ Moresby Base Sub Area)
Sergeant Philip Ernest Nicholls (SX6040) (Australian Army) (Accounts Office QLD L of C)
Technician Fifth Grade Albert E. Peg low (US Army)
Gunner Thomas Layton Vinecombe (VX37247) (Australian Army) (2/3 Composite Anti Aircraft Regiment RAA)
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 A705, 166/18/235
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line
Bibliography:
McFarlane, C.C. (Cyrus C.) Tojo’s Fate: Australia’s secret war, Sid Harta Publishers Glen Waverley VIC 3150, 2009
McMillan A. (Andrew) Catalina Dreaming: rescues exciting missions and other stories about the famous Australian flying boats of WWII, Duffy and Snellgrove Potts Point NSW, 2002
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Catalina, Neptune and Orion in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1991