PALAMOUNTAIN, Max Temby
| Service Numbers: | S11997, 39854 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 March 1940, Unley, SA |
| Last Rank: | Leading Aircraftman |
| Last Unit: | No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Moorak, Mount Gambier, South Australia, 18 June 1919 |
| Home Town: | Peake, The Coorong, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Moorak School & Mt Gambier High School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Post Office Assistant |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia , 4 February 1943, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Adelaide River War Cemetery, Northern Territory Plot R, Row C, Grave no. 9 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Peake War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 21 Mar 1940: | Enlisted S11997 | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Mar 1940: | Enlisted Unley, SA | |
| 21 Mar 1940: | Involvement S11997 | |
| 29 Jul 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 39854 | |
| 29 Jul 1941: | Enlisted Adelaide | |
| 29 Jul 1941: | Involvement 39854 | |
| 4 Feb 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 39854, No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron (RAAF) | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement |
Help us honour Max Temby Palamountain's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Max Temby PALAMOUNTAIN was born in 18th June, 1919 at Moorak, Mount Gambier, South Australia
His parents were William Arundel PALAMOUNTAIN and Amy Edna KILSBY
He first enlisted with the Army on 21st March, 1940 & later enlisted with the RAAF on 29th July, 1941
On 23rd March, 1942 he married Lillian Enid WRAY in the Baptist Church, Peake, SA
On 6th July, 1942 No. 18 Squadron was officially deleted as a unit of the RAAF and became part of the Netherlands East Indies Forces. The squadron moved to the Darwin area in January 1943 & under the operational control of RAAF Command continued its attacks and anti shipping strikes throughout the Netherlands , East Indies.
At approximately 7.45pm on 4th February, 1943, B25C Mitchell, N5 -132 of 18 Squadron of the Netherlands East Indies Air Force (NEI -AF) , crashed about 3 to 4 miles east of its home base at McDonald Airfield in the Northern Territory due to engine problems after takeoff on an operational mission. The whole crew of eight plus one passenger, which included 3 RAAF personnel were tragically killed.
Max died on 4th February, 1943 and is buried in Adelaide River War Cemetery - his name is memorialised on the Australian War Memorial
Mr Ken Palamountain of Kongorong received word that his brother, Leading Aircraftsman, Max Temby Palamountain has been Killed in Action. He was the 3rd son of Mr. & Mrs. W.A Palamountain of Murray Bridge and received his education at Moorak school and the Mount Gambier High School. He had been in the RAAF two years and was stationed somewhere in Australia. LAC Palamountain was 23 years of age and 12 months ago he married Miss Wray of Peake
His brother William John PALAMOUNTAIN (2533) served in the RAN & another brother Kenneth William PALAMOUNTAIN (140295) was also in the RAAF
Always Remembered
Biography contributed by David Barlow
Three members of the RAAF were killed when Mitchell B25 Bomber N5-132 of Number 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron crashed after take-off on an early morning mission 3 miles NW of MacDonald Strip, NT (details from the book “Up in Darwin with the Dutch” by Gordon Wallace)
Sergeant David Leslie MacPherson 408910
Sergeant Harold Oscar Walton 408894 (passed away from his injuries at 119AGH just after midnight)
LAC Max Temby Palamountain 39854
Rest of the crew were Dutch military personnel, all killed: SCHALK, L (Sergeant Major) 34-KUM / HIELE, C (Sergeant) 95845 / JANSSEN, J J (Sergeant) 92766 / MAARSCHALKEWEERD, A (Sergeant) 94733 / ABELEVEN, G F (Sergeant) 94685 / KESSELS, NW (Sergeant Major) 92875
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