LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant John Robert JAMES
Service No: 400645
Born: Shepparton VIC, 17 December 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 12 October 1940
Unit: No. 450 Squadron
Died: Air Operations (No. 450 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft AL146), Libya, 8 June 1942, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Thomas Charles and Sylvia Stiggants James, of Grahamvale, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Shepparton VIC
Remembered: Column 266, Alamein Memorial, Egypt
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 8 June 1942, Kittyhawk AL146 flown by Sergeant James was in a formation of eleven aircraft acting as top cover to nine fighter bombers of No. 112 Squadron RAF whose target was to bomb enemy motor transport dispersed in Bir Hacheim area. After the fighter bombers had dropped their bombs, the top cover went down and strafed the target. Heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered and it was presumed that AL146 was shot down as it failed to return to base.
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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/126/82