LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant John William McKAY
Service No: 405492
Born: Ipswich QLD, 14 January 1914
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 March 1941
Unit: No. 22 Squadron
Died: Air Operations: (No. 22 Squadron Boston aircraft A28-20), Gona Mission PNG, 29 November 1942, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John and Catherine McKay; husband of Margaret McKay, of Mount Isa, Queensland
Roll of Honour: Ipswich QLD
Remembered: Panel 101, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1030 hours on 29 November 1942, Boston A28-20 took off from Wards Strip as one of three aircraft detailed to bomb and strafe enemy positions at the Gona Mission. On reaching the target the formation broke up and A28-20 led the attack. As the aircraft was making its run and was in a position to drop its bombs, the aircraft burst into flames and disintegrated. The wreck of the aircraft the remains of the crew were found by forward troops on 2 February 1943.
The crew members of A28-20 were:
Flight Lieutenant Herbert James Bullmore (403405) (Pilot)
Sergeant John William McKay (405492) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Ian Cameron Stodart (413801) (Wireless Air Gunner)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/141/847