LEST WE FORGET

Major William Francis O’HARA

Service No: NX100719 (N37286) (Australian Army)
Born: Leichardt NSW, 20 May 1911
Enlisted in the Army: 27 July 1942
Unit: No. 2 Air Liaison Section
Died: Air Operations: (No. 4 Squadron Wirraway aircraft A20-160), Buna PNG, 22 December 1942, Aged 31 Years
Buried: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Frederick Thomas O’Hara and Mary Josephine O’Hara; husband of Joan Mida O’Hara, of Enfield, New South Wales. D.P.A. (Sydney)
Roll of Honour: Enfield NSW
Remembered: Panel 10, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Department of Motor Transport- Honour Roll, North Sydney NSW

On 22 December 1942, Wirraway A20-160 was on a tactical reconnaissance when it was shot down by anti-aircraft fire one mile south of the new airstrip at Buna and the crew members were killed.

The crew members of A20-160 were:

Flying Officer George Hockings (405250) (Pilot)
Major William Francis O’Hara (NX100719) (Army) (Air Liaison Section, Supernumerary)

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 B883, NX100719
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line

Bibliography:

Baker, N. (Nicola) More Than Little Heroes: Australian Army Air Liaison Officers in WWII, Australian National University Canberra ACT 2600, 1994

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