BOYD, Harry James
| Service Numbers: | V170264, 427775 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 October 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 24 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Camperdown, Corangamite - Victoria, Australia, 28 February 1923 |
| Home Town: | Camperdown, Corangamite, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Aircraft Crashed during an Operational Mission, Vansittart Bay, Western Australia, Vansittart Bay, Western Australia, Australia, 23 March 1945, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Adelaide River Northern Territory Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Pomborneit North State School War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, V170264, 6 Infantry Battalion AMF | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Sep 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 427775, Aircrew Training Units, Empire Air Training Scheme | |
| 19 Sep 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 427775, Aircrew Training Units, Perth Western Australia | |
| 19 Sep 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 427775 | |
| 23 Mar 1945: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 427775, No. 24 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SW Pacific 1941-45 |
Help us honour Harry James Boyd's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Steve Larkins
Harry Boyd was son of Harry Norman and Eveline Mary Jane Boyd, of Pomborneit North, Victoria.
On 23 March 1945 he was the co-pilot of B-24 Liberator bomber A72-80 of No. 24 Squadron RAAF flying in the NW Area of Operations
The aircraft departed Truscott, WA,to conduct an anti-shipping sweep leading a flight of four aircraft. The crew was as follows:
Pilot - STRAUS Nathaniel Herbert SQNLDR 250759
Co-Pilot - BOYD Harry James FSGT 427775
Navigator - WHITING Raymond Allenby FLGOFF 426733
Bombardier - PARRY-OKEDEN Charles David FLTLT 404485
W/AG HURSTHOUSE John Wilson FLGOFF 416215
W/AG FLANAGAN William Richard WOFF 401748
Air Gunner PARKER Herbert Gordon WOFF 408591
Air Gunner RODGERS William Anthony Jordon FSGT 436889
Air Gunner RYAN John Richmond FSGT 422716
Air Gunner WHITEHEAD Alexander Douglas SGT 121592
Flight Engineer MORRIS Ronald Malcolm FSGT 46563
Passenger - MADDEN Douglas William CPL 36484
"At 0650 hours today, SQUADRON LEADER N.H. STRAUS, Captain and crew comprising FLIGHT LIEUTENANT C.D. PARRY-OKENDEN NAV B (Bombardier), FLYING OFFICER R.A. WHITING, NAV B, FLYING OFFICER J.W. HURSTHOUSE W.O. AIR, F/SGT BOYD, Pilot 2nd, W/O FLANAGAN, W.R., W.O. AIR, W/O PARKER, H.G., Air gunner, F/SGT RYAN,J.R. Air gunner, F/SGT ROGERS, A.J., Air gunner, SGT WHITEHEAD, A.D., ARM/A.G., F/SGT MORRIS, R.M., Flight Engineer and CPL MADDEN, D.W., passenger, took off in Liberator A72-80 from Truscott Strip, Western Australia, leading a formation of four aircraft on an armed shipping sweep. Shortly after take off, S/Ldr STRAUS called Truscott tower on V.H.F. indicating that he was preparing for an emergency landing. Owing to low altitude it was apparent that S/Ldr STRAUS could not locate the strip. For 23 minutes after take off the aircraft was airborne and during this time various messages from the aircraft were received by Truscott tower and V.H.F. homing and by the remainder of the aircraft in the formation. None of these messages informed the exact cause of the distress but all that was received was that the aircraft could not gain height. At 0713 hours a message was received that S/Ldr STRAUS was about to ditch in Vansittart Bay. Following this the crews of the remaining three aircraft saw A72-80 ditch with wings level but at a fairly high rate of descent. The aircraft caught fire on impact with the water and disintegrated. .." Approximately 23 minutes after take-off, the aircraft was seen to ditch in Vansittart Bay.
24 Squadron operations log
HMAS Coongoola proceeded to the scene, and extensive air searches were carried out. The aircraft and crew were lost.
Only the bodies of SQNLDR Straus, FLTLT Parry-Okeden and FSGT Rodgers were recovered - they are now interred at the Adelaide River War Cemetery. The remainder of the crew are commemorated on the Northern Territory Memorial.
Sources:
http://www.raafdb.com/view_aircraft.asp?id=185
RAAF Serials - http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a72.htm
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