LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant John Francis MULCAHY
Service No: 403946
Born: Newtown NSW, 12 December 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 March 1941
Unit: No. 33 Squadron
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 33 Squadron C47 aircraft A65-56), Milne Bay PNG, 11 September 1945, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Cornelius and Elvena Francis Mulcahy; husband of Violet Agnes Mulcahy, of Marrickville, New South Wales.
Roll of Honour: Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 9, Port Moresby Memorial, PNG
Remembered: Panel 103, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Brother of Sergeant Arthur Cornelius Mulcahy (422234)
On 11 September 1945, RAAF Dakota aircraft A65-56 crashed into the sea off Milne Bay, PNG, killing all on board. Those on board were:
Crew Members:
Flight Lieutenant Eric Clarence Beer (253615) (Pilot)
Flight Lieutenant John Francis Mulcahy (403946) (Second Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Francis Xavier Sullivan (449405) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Passengers:
Flight Sergeant James Neville Davis (433345) Wireless Air Gunner, No. 6 Squadron
Sergeant Keith Hugh Devenish (17286) Fitter IIA, RAAF HQ, Port Moresby
Sergeant Wesley Greg Doran (50353) Radar Mechanic, No. 337 Radar Station, Admiralty Islands, PNG
Corporal Ernest Lochlan Eastall (88705) Clerk Stores, No. 7 Transport and Movements Office, Milne Bay PNG
Flight Lieutenant William John Gordon (419569) Pilot, No. 6 Squadron
Aircraftman Class 1 Albert John Haslam (159583) Office Orderly, HQ RAAF Northern Command, Madang PNG
Leading Aircraftman Percy Badon Healy (162787) Fitter Driver Motor Transport, No. 303 Radar Station, Milne Bay PNG
Officers’ Cook Gordon Liddell (B5058) (RAN) HMAS Ladava, Milne Bay PNG
Corporal Neil Stuart Mackay (139076) Officer Orderly, HQ RAAF Northern Command, Madang PNG
Corporal Michael Francis Moran (118118) Radar Operator, No. 347 Radar Station, Admiralty Islands PNG
Flying Officer William Patrick Reedman (435578) Navigator, No. 6 Squadron
Flight Sergeant Kevin Francis Rutherford (433825) Wireless Air Gunner, No. 6 Squadron
Sapper Keith Smith (VX65318) (Army) 10 General Transport Company
Leading Aircraftman William Douglas Goldie Stevens (418569) Driver Motor Transport, No. 43 Operational Base Unit, Milne Bay PNG
Leading Aircraftman Albert Grant Walton (151902) Refrigeration Mechanic, HQ RAAF Northern Command, Madang PNG
Lieutenant Noel Thomas Williams (QX46941) (Army) Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU)
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, 116
Bibliography:
Ilbery, P.L.T. (Peter Leslie Thomas) (422957) Hatching an Air Force: 2SFTS, 5SFTS, 1BFTS Uranquinty and Wagga Wagga, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4650, 2002