RAAF WWII Roll of Honour for Fighter Units

On 15 February 1942, Lieutenant Robert J Buel (O-424901) flying a Kittyhawk from Darwin was lost in the Arafura Sea to the north east of Darwin while flying in support of a convoy enroute to Timor. The only other Kittyhawk then at Darwin was on another patrol being flown by Second Lieutenant Robert G Oestreicher DSC (O-421298).

On 19 February 1942, 10 Kittyhawk aircraft, that had arrived in Darwin around midday on 15 February, set out from Darwin for Timor but turned back due to poor weather. On return to Darwin, Major Floyd Joaquin Pell DSC (O-20701), the Commanding Officer ordered five aircraft to be led by Second Lieutenant Oestreicher (the only other experienced pilot) to remain on Combat Air Patrol over the harbour while the other five aircraft were to be refuelled.

While on patrol, Second Lieutenant Oestreicher sighted the first wave of Japanese aircraft about to begin their attack and warned Major Pell over the radio. Four of the aircraft on patrol were shot down and two pilots were killed.

– Second Lieutenant Jack R Peres DSC (O-416707) was pursued and shot down by two aircraft and crashed in bush east of Darwin and was killed.

– Second Lieutenant Elton Stacy Perry DSC (O-425042) was shot down into the sea and was killed.

– Second Lieutenant Max R Wiecks DSC (O-430006) bailed out into the sea and was rescued.

– Second Lieutenant William R Walker DSC (18034009), though injured, crash landed his Kittyhawk at the RAAF Station.

– Having shot down at least one aircraft and out of ammunition, Second Lieutenant Oestreicher flew south at treetop level towards Daly River and landed there safely.

Refuelling had been completed for the five aircraft and on receiving Oestreicher’s warning, they all were scrambled. All five were shot down and two pilots were killed. In total, the aerial battle lasted about 10 minutes and from then and during the second raid later that day, there was no aerial opposition to the Japanese forces.

– Second Lieutenant Charles W Hughes (O-427738) was strafed during take off at Darwin and died in his aircraft in a crash near the RAAF Station.

– Major Pell has his Kittyhawk aircraft damaged by gunfire during aerial combat and he was forced to bale out too low for his parachute to deploy. He was then shot by cannon fire from another fighter aircraft and killed.

– Second Lieutenant Robert F McMahon DSC (O-427435)’s aircraft was damaged in aerial combat and he parachuted to safety near Waterlilly Creek south of Darwin.

– Second Lieutenant Burt H Rice DSC successfully baled from his aircraft that was damaged in aerial combat.

– Second Lieutenant John G Glover DSC (17017143) crash landed his aerial-combat damaged aircraft at the RAAF Station and was injured.

The air defence of Darwin was taken over by the USAAF’s 49th Fighter Group during March 1942. (See Fighter Groups and Wings)