LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Albert Charles Frederick KLINGER
Service No: 425945
Born: Mackay QLD, 28 May 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 21 May 1942
Unit: No. 260 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 260 Squadron Mustang aircraft KH573), Adriatic Sea, 29 April 1945, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Albert Samuel and Elizabeth Klingner, of Mackay, Queensland; husband of Chasely Helen Joyce Klingner, of Mackay, Queensland, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 19, Column 1, Malta Memorial, Malta
Remembered: Panel 125, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 29 April 1945 Mustang KH573 was flying as Blue 4 in a formation of 8 aircraft detailed to carry out, an armed reconnaissance in Northern Yugoslavia and Southern Austria. In a statement by Flying Officer Masters one of the pilots in the formation he reported: “I took off at 0615 hours on 29 April flying as Blue 3, Klinger being number 2 (Blue 4). After about 15 minutes while flying across the Adriatic, the Commanding Officer called Blue 4 and told him he appeared to be losing petrol from the fuselage and to check his fuel cock. Blue 4 did not reply, and after being told twice more still with no reply, I was detailed to escort him to base. Altitude at the time was about 4,500 feet. We turned and flew west and after about 3 minutes I suddenly saw KH 573 dive into the sea at about a 45 degree angle. I saw no parachute and although searched the area for about 15 minutes, before being joined by the rest of the Squadron, who then searched, could see no sign of parachute or dinghy.” It was later recorded that Pilot Officer Klinger had lost his life at sea.
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, 166/22/491