Perth commemorative service honours fallen airman
Courtesy of the Department of Defence
A commemorative service was recently held at the Aviation Heritage Museum in Perth for the family members of Flight Sergeant Richard Hobbs, who died in a Second World War air crash.
Flight Sergeant Hobbs was a crew member of No. 11 Squadron Catalina A24-50, which was lost in September 1943 during a wartime mission.
The crash site of Catalina A24-50 was found near Fakfak in Indonesia in 2018, and a commemorative service was held in Cairns in July 2021 for the 10 crew members on board who lost their lives.
However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the family of Flight Sergeant Hobbs – who served as Catalina A24-50’s wireless operator/air gunner – were unable to travel to the event.
Air Commodore Robert Lawson, Director-General of History and Heritage – Air Force, delivered the keynote address at the service.
Air Commodore Lawson presented Flight Sergeant Hobbs’ family with four medals and his Certificate of Service, along with an artefact preserved from the crash site.
The service also included a wreath-laying ceremony at the museum’s Catalina.
Read the full story on the Defence website.
Air Commodore Robert Lawson, Director-General of History and Heritage – Air Force, addresses family members and friends of Flight Sergeant Richard Hobbs, crew member of Catalina A24-50. Photo: Sergeant Gary Dixon