John Wilson (Jack) HURSTHOUSE

HURSTHOUSE, John Wilson

Service Number: 416215
Enlisted: 24 April 1941, Adelaide, SA
Last Rank: Flying Officer
Last Unit: No. 21 Squadron (RAAF)
Born: Adelaide, South Australia, 26 September 1913
Home Town: Elbow Hill, Franklin Harbour, South Australia
Schooling: Queens College, Adelaide. Roseworthy Agricultural College, Gawler, South Australia
Occupation: Farm Labourer & Lorry Driver
Died: Flying Battle, Vansittart Bay, Western Australia, 23 March 1945, aged 31 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials: Adelaide River Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cowell Memorial Plaque for J Mills & J.W. Hursthouse, Cowell War Memorial, North Adelaide Christ Church and Queen's College Honour Roll, Prospect St. Cuthbert's Church WW2 Honour Board, Whyalla BHP Employees War Memorial, Whyalla Memorial Wall, Whyalla Roll of Honour
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World War 2 Service

24 Apr 1941: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 416215, Aircrew Training Units, Adelaide, SA
24 Apr 1941: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 416215
23 Mar 1945: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 416215, No. 21 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SW Pacific 1941-45, Killed 23 March 1945 along with the rest of his crew when their aircraft ditched in Vansittart Bay WA
Date unknown: Involvement

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Biography contributed by David Barlow

Son of Calvert Fearon Hursthouse and Lilian Ethel Hursthouse

Husband of Jean Isabel Hursthouse of Toorak Gardens, South Australia

 

RAAF Liberator aircraft A72-80 of 24 Squadron crashed into Vansittart Bay, WA shortly after take-off from Truscott airstrip on an Operational mission - all on board were killed:

 

Bodies not recovered, commemorated on the Northern Territory Memorial -

Flying Officer John Wilson Hursthouse 416215

Flying Officer Raymond Allenby Whiting 426733

Warrant Officer William Richard Flanagan 401748

Warrant Officer Herbert Gordon Parker 408591

Flight Sergeant Howey James Boyd 427775

Flight Sergeant Ronald Malcolm Morris 46563

Flight Sergeant John Richmond Ryan 422716

Sergeant Alexander Douglas Whitehead 121592

Corporal Douglas William Madden 36484

 

Bodies recovered, buried at Adelaide River War Cemetery -

Squadron Leader Nathaniel Ivan Straus 250759 (Mentioned in Despatches)

Flight Lieutenant Charles David Parry-Okeden 404485

Flight Sergeant William Anthony Jordan Rodgers 436889

 

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