LEST WE FORGET
Warrant Officer Robert QUINE
Service No: 405878
Born: Brisbane QLD, 6 October 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 21 June 1941
Unit: No. 152 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 152 Squadron Spitfire aircraft JK511), Sicily, 12 July 1943, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Arthur Howell Quine, and of Louisa Quine, of Norman Park, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 11, Column 2, Malta Memorial, Malta
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 12 July 1943 Spitfire JK 511 flown by warrant Officer was Red 4 in a formation of 8 aircraft detailed to cover Sicilian beaches. Enemy opposition was encountered and the formation broke up into sections. JK 511 and its No. 1 were last seen immediately before combat ensued. At the end of the patrol the formation Leader instructed Red section to rendezvous at 7000 feet over Gela, and an acknowledgement to this order was given by Red 3. There was no acknowledgement by JK511 and nothing was seen of the aircraft leaving the target area. It was later recorded that it was assumed that Warrant Officer Quine had lost his life at sea.
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, 166/34/5