MCINERNEY, Thomas Taylor
| Service Number: | 407273 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 211 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia , 10 December 1908 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Adelaide University, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Barrister and Solicitor LL.B. (Adelaide) |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Java Sea off Banka Island, Banka Island, Netherlands East Indies, 13 February 1942, aged 33 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Panel 7, Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory, Australia |
| Memorials: | Adelaide River Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 17 Aug 1940: | Involvement Flying Officer, 407273 | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 1940: | Enlisted Adelaide | |
| 17 Aug 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 407273 | |
| 13 Feb 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, No. 211 Squadron (RAF) | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement | |
| Date unknown: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by David Barlow
Son of Timothy Marcus and Agnes McInerney of Melbourne, Victoria
Flying Officer McInerney 407273 RAAF (Observer) was the only fatality in this incident.
Six Blenheim aircraft of 211 Squadron RAF led by Wing Commander Bateson went out on a low level shipping attack off the Sumatra coast. The formation ran into a storm, did not locate the target, and the storm was so bad they could not see the flare path at Palembang. Pilot Officer Chalmers (RAF), pilot of Flying Officer McInerney’s aircraft, could not find the aerodrome and after circling until the petrol ran low decided to force land in the Java Sea. The aircraft came down heavily, and neither Chalmers nor Kendrick (the other crew member) saw McInerney get out of the aircraft. Chalmers and Kendrick, who had Mae Wests on, spent the night in the water and were picked up by boat the next morning and taken to Batavia. It was apparent that McInerney could not have survived although he had his Mae West on.
Survivors: Pilot Officer Donald Richardson Chalmers 44807 RAF (Pilot) (originally served as a 2nd Lt in the Cameronians) / Sergeant George Michael Kendrick 402202 RAAF (Wireless Operator Air Gunner) was injured, discharged 14 Aug 1942
(some info from the 211 SQN site http://users.cyberone.com.au/clardo/index.html)
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