CROUCH, Alexander Headley
| Service Number: | 23560 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 September 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Leading Aircraftman |
| Last Unit: | No. 20 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Roma, Queensland , 21 September 1919 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Roma State School, Melbourne High School |
| Occupation: | Mechanic |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Fakfak, West Papua, Netherlands East Indies, 2 September 1943, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cairns Catalina A24-50 Memorial Plaque, Lae Memorial, Roma Cenotaph, Town of Roma & Shire of Bungil WW2 Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 12 Sep 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 23560, RAAF Ground Training Schools | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Sep 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 23560 | |
| 3 Apr 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 23560, No. 20 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SW Pacific 1941-45, Start date with Sqn requires confirmation / validation from svc record | |
| 2 Sep 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 23560, No. 20 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SW Pacific 1941-45, On attachment to Catalina A24-50 No. 11 Squadron. Lost with aircraft and all crew 2 Sep 43 |
Wreckage of Black Cat A24-50 discovered in West Papua 3 Aug 19
3 August 2019
THE Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has completed a search and recovery mission in Indonesia for the remains of 10 Australian airmen aboard Catalina A24-50, 76 years after the aircraft failed to return from a wartime mission.
Reported missing on 2 September 1943 while on a sea mining operation to Sorong in occupied Dutch New Guinea, the wreckage of RAAF No 11 Squadron Catalina A24-50 was located near Fakfak, in West Papua in April 2018.
Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel Darren Chester said the Air Force Unrecovered War Casualties team positively identified the missing aircraft during a reconnaissance mission to the crash site last year.
“We are committed to honouring the service and sacrifice of Australian military personnel from all theatres of war,” Mr Chester said.
“The RAAF team has concluded further search activities in the field and have reported finding a number of items of interest which require further testing in order to confirm the origin of each item.
“The only major recognisable pieces of wreckage were two sections of the wing, engines and propeller, and the empennage (rear part of fuselage) across the top of a ridge.
“We are very grateful for the support and assistance provided by the Indonesian Air Force throughout this process, without which this work could not take place.”
The Hon Darren Chester MP
Submitted 7 July 2020 by Steve Larkins
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Thomas Edward and Florence Ethel Crouch; husband of Gwen Crouch, of Bungeworgorai, Queensland.
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