LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Gordon Stewart HOWISS
Service No: 400202
Born: Horsham VIC, 28 October 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 21 July 1940
Unit: No. 36 Squadron (RAF), RAF Seletar, Singapore
Died: Air Operations: (No. 36 Squadron Vilderbeest aircraft K 4599), Malaya, 26 January 1942, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Stephan and Mary Howiss, of East Brighton, Victoria, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 124, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Brother of Flight Sergeant William John Howiss (418842) Killed on Air Operations: 25 February 1944
Vilderbeest K4599 was presumed lost over Endau, Malaya, on 26 January 1942 as a result of enemy action. Search parties after the war discovered the wreck of the aircraft about 6.5 miles south east of Endau in position 02.35N 103.41E. The aircraft was partly submerged nose down in a swamp. The rear of the fuselage and the tail that carried the identification number of the aircraft were above the surface. It was not possible to determine the cause of the crash. There was no trace of fire. Some remains of the crew were in the aircraft but identification was not possible.
The crew members of K6392 were:
Sergeant Gordon Stewart Howiss (400202) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Sergeant Thomas Steele Tanner (41503) (RNZAF) (Pilot)
Pilot Officer Arthur Edwin Turner (406191) (Navigator)
The crew remains are consecrated in a common grave and buried at Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.
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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/123/199