LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Arthur Robert RUGE
Service No: 405424
Born: Proserpine QLD, 5 October 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 29 March 1941
Unit: No. 2 Operational Training Unit
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 2 Operational Training Unit Wirraway aircraft A20-506), Murray River, 23 June 1942, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Robert Jacob and Jane Ruge, of Proserpine, Queensland
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 6, Sydney Memorial, Rookwood NSW
Remembered: Panel 112, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1040 hours on 23 June 1942, Wirraway A20-506 took off from Mildura aerodrome detailed to proceed to Lake Victoria, 50 miles west of Mildura, to undertake shadow shooting. At 1120 hours, while carrying out this exercise, A20-506 was observed by the pilot of the shadow aircraft to flick stall and spin into the water. The dirty colour of the water prevented the aircraft being spotted from the air, and rough weather made dragging operations very difficult. The search for the missing crew members was abandoned on the 20 July 1942.
The crew members of A20-506 were:
Leading Aircraftman George Henry Moore (15508) (Fitter Armourer, Supernumerary)
Sergeant Arthur Robert Ruge (405424) (Pilot)
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 A705, 163/159/85; A9845, 195