LEST WE FORGET

Leading Aircraft Edward George KIMMINS

Service No: 22537
Born: Toowoomba QLD, 19 August 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 27 May 1940
Unit: No. 32 Squadron, Horn Island QLD
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 32 Squadron Hudson aircraft A16-198), off Byron Bay NSW, 6 July 1942, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edward Gordon Jubilee Kimmins and Wilhelmina Kimmins; husband of Beryl Margaret Kimmins, of Katoomba, New South Wales.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 7, Sydney Memorial, Rookwood NSW
Remembered: Panel 103, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

On 6 July 1942, No. 32 Squadron Hudson aircraft A16-198 crashed at sea at night and then exploded off the NSW north coast with the loss of ten RAAF Members. The aircraft became lost on a transit flight between Townsville and Amberley. The high casualty count includes four crew and six other Squadron Members proceeding on leave.

Those on board A16-198 were:

Sergeant David Leslie Bradley (30650)
Leading Aircraftman William Edward Evans (24493)
Leading Aircraftman Harold Wilmot Johnstone (24775)
Leading Aircraftman Edward George Kimmins (22537)
Sergeant Douglas John Lovejoy (403752)
Sergeant Gavin Athole Laurie McLaren (406859)
Aircraftman Class 1 Edward George Merefield (25767)
Sergeant Gordon William George Ridge (416231)
Flight Lieutenant Robert Thomas Trigg (467) (Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman Frederick Albert Charles Wood (24672)

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 A9845, 137

Bibliography:

Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992
Vincent, D. (David) The RAAF Hudson Story Book 1, D. Vincent Highbury SA 5089, 1989 (An account of the A16-198 accident is given at pages 197-8)

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