Malcolm Frederick MERRETT

Malcolm Frederick MERRETT Update Details

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MERRETT, Malcolm Frederick

Service Number:	19710
Enlisted:	20 November 1940
Last Rank:	Leading Aircraftman
Last Unit:	No. 20 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Donald, Victoria, Australia, 29 September 1909
Home Town:	Donald, Buloke, Victoria
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Not yet discovered
Died:	Aircraft accident, Cairns, Queensland, Australia, 13 April 1943, aged 33 years
Cemetery:	Cairns War Cemetery, Queensland Plot A. Row B. Grave 7.
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement 19710
20 Nov 1940:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 19710
20 Nov 1940:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 19710, RAAF Ground Training Schools
13 Sep 1943:	Involvement Leading Aircraftman, No. 20 Squadron (RAAF)
Date unknown:	Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 19710

Help us honour Malcolm Frederick Merrett's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by VWMA Example

Enlisted as Malcolm Fredrick MERRETT

Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Richard Ackland Merrett and Catherine Merrett; husband of Phyllis Jean Merrett, of Ballarat, Victoria.

Biography contributed by David Barlow

Catalina A24-36 (USN PBY-5 08190) of Number 11 Squadron RAAF crashed near the entrance to Cairns harbour on return from a night-time search patrol. They had flown for 23 hours 23 minutes and ran out fuel after being unable to land due to severe weather conditions.

There were two survivors:

Sergeant Geoff Suckling 401056 (1st W/T) who recovered and was discharged in June 1945 with the rank of Warrant Officer

LAC Murray Byham 51514 (armourer - ground crew) who was seriously injured and was discharged in June 1944 from Number 1 Convalescent Depot

Killed were:

Pilot - Flight Lieutenant Arnold Hinchcliffe 411106

Navigator - Pilot Officer Leslie Henstridge 416497

2nd Pilot - Sergeant Lenard Carr 416206

1st Engineer (ground crew) - Sergeant Harold McGillivary 19268

2nd Engineer (ground crew) - LAC Malcolm Merrett 19710

Rigger - Sergeant James Lahey 405743

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