LEST WE FORGET

Flying Officer Robert Henry Holloway HOSBAND

Service No: 404734
Born: Waroona WA, 9 September 1912
Enlisted in the RAAF: 8 November 1940 (at Brisbane QLD)
Unit: No. 461 Squadron, RAF Hamworthy UK
Died: Air Operations: (No. 461 Squadron Sunderland aircraft T9113), Bay of Biscay, 1 September 1942, Aged 29 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Bernard Charles and Dorothy Juanita Hosband, of Cremorne, New South Wales, Australia; husband of Gwenyth Ethel Hosband, of Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Kingaroy QLD
Remembered: Panel 110, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 108, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Rathmines Memorial Bowling Club, Rathmines NSW

Again the enemy showed bitter air opposition to these Bay (of Biscay) patrols and Australians had five combats early in the month, one resulting in the loss of a No. 461 Sunderland on 1st September (1942).

Extract from Herington, J. (John) (406545) Air War Against Germany and Italy 1939-1943, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1954 – Page 294

On 1st September 1942 Pilot Officer R Hosband and crew in Sunderland T9113 (UT-F) disappeared while on an anti-submarine patrol over the Bay. The only reports received from the aircraft were that they were being attacked by two Ju-88s, then an SOS. Nothing further was heard.

Extract from Ashworth, N. (Norman) The ANZAC Squadron: A history of No. 461 Squadron RAAF 1942-5, Hesperian Press Victoria Park WA 6100, 1994 – Page 33

The crew members of T9113 were:

Sergeant Norman Jack Alecock (1156113) (RAFVR) (Flight Mechanic / Air Gunner)
Sergeant Donald Maurice Bowd (903991) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Flight Sergeant Roy Victor Chinnery (406611) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Louis Gordon Emrys-Jones (400272) (Third Pilot)
Sergeant Ernest Richard Eva (405202) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Cyril Ernest Hayward (1001001) (RAFVR) (Flight Mechanic / Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Robert Henry Holloway Hosband (404734) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Samuel King (626282) (RAF) (Wireless Mechanic / Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Donald Ian Stewart (401091) (Observer / Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Oscar Lovelock Wennholm (403613) (Second Pilot)
Sergeant Joseph Ingelby White (1098657) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)

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 A9186, 148 (No. 461 Squadron Operations Record Book)
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line

Bibliography:

Baff, K.C (Kevin), Maritime is Number Ten; the Sunderland era, K.C. Baff Netley SA, 1983
Joubert, P.B. (Sir Phillip Bennet) Birds and Fishes: the story of Coastal Command, Hutchinson and Company London, 1960
Southall, I.F. (Ivan Francis) (418900) They Shall Not Pass Unseen, Angus and Robertson Sydney NSW, 1956
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992

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