LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Eugene Haydon WEBER MID
Service No: 404864
Born: Rockhampton QLD, 8 June 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 6 December 1940
Unit: No. 78 Squadron
Awarded the Mentioned in Despatches (MID)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 78 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-537), Hansa Bay, New Guinea, 2 March 1944, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Lae War Cemetery PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Francis August and Margaret Gwenllian Weber, of Rockhampton, Queensland
Roll of Honour: Rockhampton QLD
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 2 March 1944, Kittyhawk A29-537 flown by Flying Officer Weber was one of 12 aircraft engaged in a barge strafing operation in Kronprinz Harbour in Hansa Bay, northern New Guinea. After destroying two barges, the formation encountered heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire from a concealed battery. A29-537 was shot down and seen to crash near the gun emplacement it had been attacking and Flying Officer Weber was killed.
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, 166/43/548; A9845, 161
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line
Bibliography:
Ilbery, P.L.T. (Peter Leslie Thomas) (422957) Hatching an Air Force: 2SFTS, 5SFTS, 1BFTS Uranquinty and Wagga Wagga, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4650, 2002