Frank Keith Morcombe DFC

Frank Keith Morcombe DFC

courtesy AWM
Personal Information
Date of Birth	18 Aug 1913
Place of Birth	Ceduna, South Australia
Death	5 Oct 1943
Place of Death	East Sale, Victoria
Age at Enlistment	27 years, 5 months
Description	6'0½" (1.84) tall ; 161lbs 73.028 kg ; fair complexion ; blue-grey eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	farm mechanic
Religion	Methodist
Address	Po Box 36 Pingelly, Western Australia
Next of Kin	wife , Mrs Alma Dorothy Morcombe
Military Information
Reg Number	406572
Date of Enlistment	3 Feb 1941
Rank	Flight Lieutenant
Unit/Formation	No 2 Squadron RAAF
Post War Details
Fate	Killed in air accident 1943
Monument(s)	Armadale War Memorial
Australian War Memorial	Australian War Memorial
Medals	Distinguished Flying Cross 1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 United Stated Presidential Unit Citation

Pre War

On 20 Feb 1936 Frank married Alma Dorothy Brown in the Beverley district.

War Service

Enlisted in the Air Force Reserve on 3 Jul 1940 On enlistment was an Aircraftsman level 2, and on 3 Apr 1941 he was transferred to 9th Elementary Flight Training School where on 29 Mar 1941 he was appointed Leading Aircraftsman having trained on de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth aircraft. Awarded his Flying Badge on 24 Jul 1941, On 2 Jun 1941 he was placed on Course No 11 at the Secondary Flight Training School flying Avro Anson aircraft. On completion of this course he was on 22 Sep 1941 discharged from the RAAF in order to be granted a Commission the following day as a Pilot Officer.

From 29 Sep 1941 until 16 Dec 1941 he attended the No 15 Navigation Course and having passed it, he was sent on a 'Hudson' (Lockheed Hudson) Conversion course at the Officer Training Unit. On 21 Jan 1942 he was posted to No 14 Squadron RAAF, a maritime patrol squadron based in Western Australia initially as convoy escorts, but later as anti-submarine patrols in Lockheed Hudsons. Here he also had his first leave, from 13 - 20 Mar 1942. He again had a period of leave before joining an operational unit, from 19 - 24 Jun 1942.

On 19 Jul 1942 Frank joined No 13 Squadron, but four days later was transferred to No 2 Squadron based in Darwin, responsible for reconnaissance and bombing patrols against Japanese shipping and installations in the islands. He joined the unit just before it began a series of raids on Japanese forces on Timor that resulted in them being awarded the United States Presidential Unit Citation for their work during August and September. Here he was promoted to Flying Officer on 23 Mar 1942, and Acting Flight Lieutenant from 1 Jan 1943 until 1 Apr 1943. During that time he had been hospitalised in 3rd RAAF Hospital at Concord from 10 - 29 Sep 1942. On 4 Apr 1943 Frank was again posted to the No 13 Squadron, this time remaining with them until 1 May 1943. From 15 Jan until 20 Jan 1943 he had enjoyed another period of leave.

On 1 Apr 1943 Frank had been promoted to Flight Lieutenant, and was posted on 17 May 1943 to No 1 Officer Training Unit as an instructor. Here on 5 Oct 1943 he died in 4th RAAF Hospital at Sale as a result of an flying accident earlier that day at East Sale.

Award Comment

The lengthy citation for his award reads as follows:

Flight Lieutenant MORCOMBE was posted to No. 2 G.R./B. (No 2 General Reconnaissance / Bombing) Squadron on the 23rd July 1942, and since that date has completed many hours of operational flying against the enemy including many day and night strikes, reconnaissance, offensive and seaward patrols.

As commander of B Flight, his constant example of determination, tirelessness and courage and his efficiency as a leader have had a tremendous influence on the other personnel of the squadron.

On the 4th December 1942, Flight lieutenant MORCOMBE was the leader of a formation of three Hudsons on an offensive patrol in search of enemy shipping along Wetar strait north of Timor. Despite persistent and close attacks by enemy fighters which commenced at the beginning of the Strait, he continued down past the enemy fighter base at Dilli and completed his mission. One aircraft was damaged in the hydraulic system which caused the under-carriage to drop and so retard its speed. By skillful leadership of the formation and the use of meagre cloud cover be brought the formation back along the Strait and home to its base without further mishap. The courage and devotion to duty displayed in this episode is typical of the fighting qualities of this officer.

Flight Lieutenant MORCOMBE has continually volunteered to participate in the more dangerous sorties as indicated by the high proportion of strikes in the sorties in which he has participated. On one occasion he scored direct hits on a Japanese Destroyer, disabling it.

Flight lieutenant MORCOMBE has proved himself to be a capable, enthusiastic and courageous leader whose devotion to duty has been in accordance with the highest traditions of the Service.

• 

  Sale War Cemetery
• 

  Frank Morcombe's gravesite.

Notes

Planes flown DH82A; Anson; Hudson.

The only other RAAF Squadron to win a US Presidential Unit Citation was No 2 Squadron for its service during the Vietnam War.

Alma had remarried by 1949 and was living at Ti Tree Cottage, Third road, Armadale.