LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Harry Byron JOHNSTON
Service No: 420024
Born: Byron Bay NSW, 5 September 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 10 October 1941
Unit: No. 15 Squadron, Menangle NSW
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 15 Squadron Beaufort aircraft A9-550), Menangle, 29 March 1944, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Camden War Cemetery, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Charles Archibald and Lillian Isabel Johnston, of Grafton
Roll of Honour: Lismore NSW
Remembered: Panel 101, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Beaufort A9-550 crashed just after takeoff at Menangle on 29 March 1944, killing all five RAAF members on board. Those members were:
Aircraftman Class 1 William Henry Bray (141632) (Passenger)
Flying Officer Ronald William Durrant (422555) (Observer)
Flight Sergeant Rex Allan Charles Hoscher (412535) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Harry Byron Johnston (420024) (Pilot)
Flying Officer Howard Douglas Wheller (426408) (Wireless 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 A705, 166/21/134
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1990