LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Gregory Alexander McCALLUM
Service No: 76278
Born: Nanango QLD, 21 February 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 22 June 1942
Unit: No. 8 Airfield Construction Squadron, Venn Airfield NT
Died: Drowned, Gove NT, 4 March 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Adelaide River War Cemetery NT
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Colin Alexander and Catherine Mary McCallum, of Nanango, Queensland
Roll of Honour: Nanango QLD
Remembered: Panel 114, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At about 1100 hours on 4 March 1944, Leading Aircraftman McCallum, a Fitter General, drowned at Rocky Bay in Gove, Northern Territory. He attempted to swim a river which entered the sea near Rocky Bay. The distance was 100 yards and he was halfway when he called out he was exhausted and sank. Tidal currents apparently were too severe. Two other airmen also swam across, one reached the bank exhausted and the other had to be assisted.
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, 166/26/390