James DE PINNA

DE PINNA, James

Service Number: 60211
Enlisted: 29 July 1941
Last Rank: Aircraftman
Last Unit: RAAF Station Darwin
Born: Manly, New South Wales, Australia, 10 June 1923
Home Town: Chatswood, Willoughby, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Died: Flying Battle, Koepang, Timor, 30 January 1942, aged 18 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory Panel 10
Memorials: Adelaide River Northern Territory Memorial
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World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement 60211
29 Jul 1941: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, RAAF Station Darwin
29 Jul 1941: Enlisted 60211

Help us honour James De Pinna's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by David Barlow

Son of Dr Herbert Alfred De Pinna and Claire De Pinna of Chatswood, NSW

 

Qantas Empire Airways Flying Boat G-AMUH “CORIO” was shot down by Japanese aircraft during a flight from Darwin to Koepang, Timor in the Netherlands East Indies

 

The aircrew (RAAF Reserve) that were killed are commemorated on the Ambon Memorial, Maluku, Indonesia (note: not on the WW2 nominal roll, no Personnel or Casualty files are held by the NAA) -

Pilot Officer Archibald Sloan Patterson (Radio Officer) 268075

Pilot Officer William George Cruickshank (Purser) 267534

Leading Aircraftman Sidney Charles Elphick (Steward) 301034

 

The RAAF personnel on board as passengers enroute to Timor are commemorated on the Northern Territory Memorial - Additional information on this incident is provided on the entry for Sergeant James Charles McMillan 6544

Corporal Edward George Kerr 18607

Aircraftman William Oliver Beckett 43169

Aircraftman John Henry Holliday 403513

Aircraftman Gordon Charles Van Treight 8041

Aircraftman James De Pinna 60211

Aircraftman William Norman Lee 34535

 

Also killed:

Mister E. Cutfield of Sarawak (CWGC - Civilian War Dead)

Mister G. A. Farrelly of Sarawak (CWGC - Civilian War Dead)

RAN Paymaster Lieutenant David William McCulloch HMAS Leeuwin - commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial in England

 

Survivors:

Captain Aubrey Albert Koch from Tasmania (Flying Boat Commander). Received a broken right leg and machine-gun bullet wounds in the left arm and left leg.  Evacuated to Darwin where he was caught up in the first Japanese raid on the town.

First Officer Victor Lyne - served in RAAF January 1938 - March 1941 - discharged as a Flying Officer from the Signals School

Passenger - Mister Frank Moore - Sarawak Civil Servant (Aged 32)

Passenger - Mister John Fisher - Sarawak Civil Servant (Aged 30)

Passenger - RAN Paymaster Lieutenant Bruce Lempriere Westbrook - discharged January 1946

 

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