LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman James Arthur WILSON
Service No: 9164
Born: London, England, 29 June 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 13 February 1940 (at RAAF Station Laverton VIC)
Unit: No. 24 Squadron
Died: Air Operations: (No. 24 Squadron Hudson aircraft A16-145), between Lae and Rabual New Guinea, 19 January 1942, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James Arthur and Grace Wilson; husband of Margaret Gladys Wilson, of Bondi, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 36, Rabaul Memorial PNG
Remembered: Panel 102, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 19 January 1942, Hudson A16-145 was being brought up as reinforcement to No.24 Squadron and it was being ferried to Rabaul from Townsville. A Naval Coast watcher stationed on the north coast of New Britain near the Kabu River reported that on 19 January 1942 an aircraft passed over in the direction of Rabaul at approximately 2000 hours. From then nothing further was heard and A16-145 failed to arrive at Rabaul.
The crew members of A16-145 were:
Sergeant Oliver George Claxton (400552) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer James Sinclair McIntyre (402995) (Second Pilot)
Flight Lieutenant Paul Pryde Paterson (260515) (Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman James Arthur Wilson (9164) (Wireless Operator)
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, 163/178/261