LEST WE FORGET

Sergeant Elston John QUIRK

Service No: 404770
Born: Murwillumbah NSW, 20 September 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 8 November 1940 (at Brisbane QLD)
Unit: No. 450 Squadron
Died: Air Operations: (No. 450 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft AK948), Libya, 22 May 1942, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James and Nymphean Lily McLeay Quirk, of Tweed River, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Tumbulgum NSW
Remembered: Column 266, Alamein Memorial, Egypt
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Tumbulgum Memorial Gardens, Tumbulgum NSW

On 22 May 1942, Kittyhawks AK948 flown by Sergeant Quirk and AK717 flown by Sergeant Arthur Lloyd Williams (401019) were in an eight aircraft formation detailed to provide top cover for Boston bombers attacking a target in the vicinity Martuba. After crossing the coast, three miles south of Ras Del, Me109s attacked the Kittyhawk top cover. One Kittyhawk was shot down and burst into flames and another was seen to spin in out of control. Both AK948 and AK717 failed to return to base.

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, 163/154/35
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line

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