LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Raymond Kingsley OSTER
Service No: 115325
Born: South Kilkerran SA, 16 May 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 July 1942
Unit: No. 6 Transportation and Movements Office, Townsville QLD
Died: Aircraft Accident (22nd Troop Carrier Squadron C47 aircraft 43-30742), near Rockhampton QLD, 19 December 1943, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Rockhampton War Cemetery, QLD
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edmund Theodor Oster and Dorothy Agnes Oster, of Stepney, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Maitland SA
Remembered: Panel 114, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
On 19 December 1943, Douglas C47 43-30742 of the 22nd Troop Carrier Squadron (USAAF) crashed near Rockhampton, Queensland. It is believed that the aircraft may have caught fire and exploded in mid-air. The aircraft was travelling from Townsville to Brisbane with a stop to be made at Rockhampton. The RAAF casualty signal records the aircraft with Australian registration VH-CHR. There were 31 casualties – 4 US Army crew members, 17 US passengers, and 10 Australian personnel. The casualties were:
Crew
Second Lieutenant William R Crecelius (O-888625) (US Army) (Pilot)
Sergeant Robert S Fazio (12192190) (US Army) (Radio Operator)
Second Lieutenant John R Rowell (O-810036) (US Army) (Co-Pilot)
Technical Sergeant John L Shupe (13035323) (US Army) (Engineer)
Passengers
Technical Sergeant Carlos M Bane (33181909 (US Army)
Leading Aircraftman Donald Cantrol Cameron (426040) No. 36 Squadron
Chief Gunner’s Mate Frank J Carline (606-97-59) (USN)
Harold George Dick (Australian War Correspondent)
Sergeant Charles F Dolan (32337024) (US Army)
Captain Alexander William Robert Geddes MID (Thrice) (SX4886) (Australian Army)
Lieutenant Harry Gillies (O-2035039) (US)
Second Lieutenant William B Graham (O-80087) (US Army)
Chief Warrant Officer Herbert R Johnson (W-2114898) (US Army)
Second Lieutenant Ernestine Koranda (N-547331) (US Army)
Captain Orien S Loverin (O-730936) (US Army)
Representative Nigel James Bruce MacDonald (62/333) (Young Men’s Christian Association)
Private Herbert J Mathias (35255439) (US Army)
Captain Crawford Derek Mollison (VX912) (Australian Army)
Leading Aircraftman Raymond Kingsley Oster (115325) No. 6 Transport and Movements Office
Private Benjamin Rasmussen (Q271392) (Australian Army)
Major Hoyt A Ross (O-350627) (US Army)
Lieutenant William Samuelson (O-182874) (USN)
Corporal Thomas William Shard (Q148539) (Australian Army)
Captain Robert J Simons (O-50563) (US Army)
Corporal William Barry Sleep (NX150010) (Australian Army)
Warrant Officer Thomas Smith (W-2107140) (US Army)
First Lieutenant George K Snyder (O-443462) (US Army)
Gunner’s Mate Third Class Jack Hayman Staggs (03825977) (USN)
Deputy Commissioner William Bramwell Tibbs BEM (B271) (Salvation Army)
Captain John Hugho Weir (NX333) (Australian Army)
Second Lieutenant Rebecca M Williams (N-724584) (US Army)
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 A705, 166/7/273
Pacific Wrecks Website
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 A705, 166/31/129