LEST WE FORGET

Flying Officer Donald Beviss KERR

Service No: 416431
Born: Adelaide SA, 27 July 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 23 June 1941
Unit: No. 1 Operational Training Unit
Died: Air Operations (No. 1 Operational Training Unit Hudson aircraft A16-36), 15 December 1942, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Donald and Marjorie Jane Kerr, of Medindie, South Australia. B.A. (Adelaide).
Roll of Honour: Adelaide SA
Remembered: Panel 112, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide

In November and December 1942, 15 Hudson aircraft from No. 1 Operational Training Unit were used as part of a Special Transport Flight engaged in supply missions to front-line Australian Forces. At 1515 hours on 15 December 1942, Hudson A16-36 (one of three Hudson on supply missions with A16-1 and A16-127) crashed 2 kms north of Jumbori, Papua, having been brought down by ground fire while dropping supplies. A16-36 had completed three sorties to and from Soputa to drop ammunition to Australian troops fighting in the area that day and was on its fourth flight, having taken off at 1425 hrs. On this supply run, the aircraft was seen banking away from Supota Strip at 100 feet after dropping supplies. It then nosed up another 100 feet and then dived into the trees near the airstrip. Australian Army personnel were soon at the wreck site.

The crew members of A16-36 were:

Flight Sergeant Leo Charles Callaghan (300400) (Wireless Air Gunner) Rescued from the wreck by Australian Commandos, Discharged from the RAAF: 9 October 1945
Sergeant Arthur Rupert Itzerott (401750) (Wireless Operator)
Flying Officer Donald Beviss Kerr (416431) (Observer)
Squadron Leader William Allan Pedrina (264) (Pilot)

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, 163/40/64

Bibliography:

Balfe, J.D. (John Donellan) (272371) War Without Glory: Australians in the war with Japan 1941-5, The MacMillan Company of Australia, South Melbourne 3205, 1984
Vincent, D. (David) The RAAF Hudson Story Book 1, D. Vincent Highbury SA 5089, 1989

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