LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Lloyd Charles MELROSE
Service No: 410002
Born: Williamstown VIC, 21 August 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 7 November 1941
Unit: No. 77 Squadron
Died: Air Operations: (No. 77 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-169), near Milne Bay PNG, 14 April 1943, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Charles David and Dora Melrose, of Williamstown. Victoria
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 9, Port Moresby Memorial PNG
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 14April 1943, Kittyhawk A29-169 flown by Sergeant Melrose was one of 19 aircraft detailed to intercept enemy bombers escorted by fighters approaching Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. The Officer Commanding A Flight flying A29-l72, who was probably the last pilot to see A29-l69, later reported: “A29-l69 was at 23,000 feet making a rear quarter attack on an enemy bomber formation. Two Zeros came across to intercept, and both the OC and A29-l69 broke downwards. At 15,000 feet, the OC was attacked by Zeros and after taking diving and evasive action, lost sight of A29-l69 and did not see the aircraft again.” A P40 aircraft was seen diving into the sea by an Army spotter, but it was not known if it was A29-169; however A29-169 was the only aircraft not accounted for from the operation.
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, 166/27/94; A9845, 7