LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Anthony Thomas RUSKIN-ROWE
Service No: 411389
Born: Sydney NSW, 4 May 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 28 April 1941
Unit: No. 452 Squadron, Strauss NT
Died: Air Operations: (No. 452 Squadron Spitfire aircraft BS 174), near Darwin NT, 20 June 1943, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Adelaide River War Cemetery, NT
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Harry and Vera Elizabeth Ruskin-Rowe, of Double Bay, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Warren NSW
Remembered: Panel 7, Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River NT
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Two Spitfire pilots (Pilot Officer Nichterlein (416104) and Pilot Officer Ruskin-Rowe (411389)) were shot down and killed during the morning’s engagement, but the Spitfires had destroyed nine enemy bombers and five fighters as well as damaging another ten. For the RAAF this was the most successful encounter up to that time at Darwin. On this occasion, General MacArthur sent his congratulations for the victory which had restored confidence in the ability of the Spitfire squadrons.
Extract from Odgers, G. (George) Air War Against Japan 1943-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1957 – Page 60
Flying Officer Ruskin-Rowe was shot down by either a Japanese bomber or covering Zero fighters while attacking a bomber formation 16 kms north of Cape Hotham, Northern Territory, sometime after 0940 hours on 20 June 1943. His section leader was Flying Officer (later Flight Lieutenant) John Henry Eric Bisley DFC (402720) who was discharged from the RAAF on 26 September 1945.
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 A9845, 272
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Spitfire, Mustang and Kittyhawk in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1988