LEST WE FORGET
Warrant Officer John Bonaventure O’CONNELL
Service No: 425201
Born: Toowoomba QLD, 22 July 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 January 1942
Unit: No. 458 Squadron, Alghero, Sardinia
Died: Injuries from Air Operations (Loss of No. 458 Squadron Wellington aircraft HF 400, 13 August 1944), Alghero, 27 September 1944, Aged 29 Years
Buried: Cagliari (St Michele) Communal Cemetery, Sardinia, Italy
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Thomas Virgilius and Emily Georgina O’Connell, of Southbrook, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Southbrook QLD
Remembered: Panel 106, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Wellington HF 400 took off from Alghero aerodrome, Sardinia, at 0630 hours on 13 August 1944 detailed to carry out an operational mission. The aircraft returned from the mission with one 250 lb (pound) (110 kg) bomb hung up and it is believed the bomb exploded on landing. All the crew were injured. Two members were seriously burned. Warrant Officer Duncan died on 17 August 1944.
Warrant Officer O’Connell was placed on the dangerously ill list. He died in the American Station Hospital on 27 September 1944.
The crew members of HF 400 were:
Flight Sergeant Leonard John Barlow (421147) (Navigator) Injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 6 September 1945
Warrant Officer John Arthur Bryson (413730) (Wireless Operator Air) Injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 2 January 1946
Flight Sergeant J Croft (1452423) (RAFVR) (Second Pilot) Injured
Warrant Officer George William Duncan (425286) (Wireless Operator Air)
Flying Officer Colin George Fereday (410116) (Pilot) Injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 7 June 1945
Warrant Officer John Bonaventure O’Connell (425201) (Wireless Operator Air)
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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/31/237
Bibliography:
Alexander, P. (Peter) We Find and Destroy: history of No. 458 Squadron, The 458 Squadron Council, 1959