LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Harold Maurice WOODROFFE
Service No: 407542
Born: Port Augusta SA, 30 September 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 9 November 1940
Unit: No. 30 Squadron, Vivigani, Goodenough Island
Died: Air Operations (No. 30 Squadron Beaufighter aircraft A19-33), New Britain, 5 September 1943, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Alfred Ernest and Nora Woodroffe; husband of Norma Bertram Woodroffe, of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 34, Rabaul Memorial, PNG
Remembered: Panel 102, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
On 5 September 1943, Beaufighter A19-33 was one of ten Squadron aircraft engaged in an offensive sweep between Cape Gloucester and Wilson Point, New Britain. The leading pair was to break formation at Grass Point and strafe aircraft at the Cape Gloucester airfield. Following the strafing run A19-33 did not return radio calls and was seen to be trailing smoke. A19-33 flew in loose formation to Borgen Bay and was seen to turn inland and crash into the jungle and burn on impact. The crew members were:
Flight Sergeant John Livingstone Brooks (43250) (Navigator)
Flying Officer Harold Maurice Woodroffe (407542) (Pilot)
Observing pilots from No. 30 Squadron were:
Pilot Officer Roderick Dougald Albrecht (414979) (O11358) Discharged from the RAAF: Date Unavailable
Flight Lieutenant Michael William Burrows (260702) Discharged from the RAAF: 16 February 1945
Flying Officer John Robert Newman (404733) Killed on air operations: 10 September 1943
Flying Officer (later Flight Lieutenant) William George Robertson DFC (405365) Discharged from the RAAF: 14 February 1946
Flight Sergeant (later Flight Lieutenant) Harold James Tapner (412858) Discharged from the RAAF: 22 January 1946
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, 12