Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

RAAF Lockheed Hudson aircraft A16-170 of Number 2 Squadron was lost during an operational flight over Koepang, Timor and all of the crew were killed.  They are commemorated on the Northern Territory Memorial to the Missing located at Adelaide River War Cemetery, NT -

Sergeant Dean Walter Francis 416665 - Son of Albert Stanley Francis and Gladys Madeleine Francis of Brighton, SA

Pilot Officer Rayden Kingsley Ross Dunning 407317 - Son of Rayden Osmond John and Eva Beatrice Caroline Dunning of Gilberton, SA

Sergeant Lindsay Hubert Skene Fraser 5103 - Son of David Skene Fraser and Ida Boddinar Fraser of Redfern, SA

Sergeant Michael Leonard Kenihan 407437 - Son of James Christopher and Frances Alice Kenihan of Kent Town, SA

Rayden Kingsley Ross DUNNING was born in Ramco on October 15, 1916 to Rayden Osmond John and Eva Beatrice Caroline Dunning.

After studying at Ramco, Waikerie and Unley, Rayden worked at the WAIKERIE Branch of the STATE BANK of SA for three years. He transferred to work at the Kimba Branch for a further two years and then joined the RAAF.

Completing his initial training in Tasmania and Victoria Rayden gained his wings and was posted to WA where he was involved in convoy escorts and reconnaissance duties.

After 8 months on these duties Rayden was posted to a “special training” course which was cut short when Japan entered the war.  Rayden was then posted to an island in the northern areas for five or six weeks.

He was brought back with his group to “the Northern Gateway”, and on February 19 experienced a bombing raid from the ground when the Japanese bombed the area.

Soon Sergeant DUNNING was posted to Adelaide again and completed his “special training course”. He left for the North again on September 23rd as the pilot in charge of a South Australian crew of which he was very proud.

One month of action later, on October 25th, 1942, the crew were listed as “Missing In Action” after being involved in action and air operations over Timor.  Their fate is still not known.

On the 29th June, 1946, (after the completion of the war and almost 4 years since the plane and crew went missing), the RAAF listed Rayden DUNNING and his crew as “Missing presumed dead”.

Rayden DUNNING, his crew and other brave men who lost their lives but have not been recovered, are commemorated on the Northern Territory Memorial and at the Australian War Memorial on the Roll of Honour.

Rayden is also commemorated with a tree and plaque in the WAIKERIE War Memorial Gardens.

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"WAR CASUALTIES

Flight Sert. R. K. R. Dunning, who is reported missing as the result of air operations, was born at Ramco on October 15, 1916. He is the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. R. O. J. Dunning of Ramco. When 12 years of age he won an exhibition in connection with the Q.C. and continued his studies at the Unley High School. From this school he passed his intermediate and several subjects in the leaving examinations. After leaving school he entered the Waikerie Branch of the State Bank and served at this office for about three years when he was transferred to Kimba. It was from this branch that after two years' service he enlisted in the R.A.A.F. His initial training was done in Tasmania, and he won his wing's at a Victorian training station. Later he was posted to W.A. where he was engaged in convoy and reconnaissance duties. After about 8 months he was posted for training in a special course but before the course was completed the Japanese came into the war and he was immediately posted to the North and served five or six weeks on one of the islands. His group was then brought back to our Northern gateway and the members of that group experienced their first taste of being bombed during the big Jap raid on February 19. Soon after this Sgt. Dunning came south and finished his special course. He left for the North again on September 23 as pilot in charge of a crew of South Aussies of whom he was particularly proud. Unfortunately all these lads are included in the bald official statement "Missing as the result of air operations on October 25." - from the Renmark Murray Pioneer 17 Dec 1942 (nla.gov.au)