Personnel Index - Detail
Part of the panel at Runnymede
At 11.30hrs, on the morning of Saturday 20th June, the squadron was asked to provide 4 Manchesters for a sea search. The previous evening, Bomber Command had attacked Emden and 9 aircraft had failed to return - a sea search was made in case any of these aircraft had ditched.
It was an ironic tragedy, when a 49 Squadron crew, that piloted by Sgt John O'Brien RAAF and Sgt Charles Goldring (L7387) crashed into the sea themselves. Only two bodies were ever recovered, that of Sgt Terence McKenna RAAF and Sgt Price RAAF.
Their fellow crew members are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.
Manchester L7387
Sgt J.O. O'Brien RAAF Pilot (Missing)
Sgt C.E. Goldring Pilot (Missing)
Sgt T.F.B. McKenna RAAF A/OB (Killed)
Sgt H.W. Price RAAF W/AG (Killed)
Sgt K. Allen RAAF (Missing)
Sgt N.J. Rogers (Missing)
Sgt A. Garos (Missing)
For several years it was believed that Sgt O'Brien was buried on the Dutch island of Schiermonnikoog......see the text of the letter below dated 1951.
Unfortunately, this information was in error as explained in this letter dated 1954.
Information researched by Dom Howard.