Warrant Officer Lloyd George Jones (RAAF)
By Marg Powell, Specialist Library Technician, Metadata Services | 2 December 2021
On 5 November 1945 Warrant Officer, Radio Operator, George Jones wrote a delightfully cheery letter to his sister-in-law Maureen and niece Edith, in Scotland as he prepared for a return flight from Archerfield Base to the Philippines. George was much looking forward to their arrival in Australia and talked of never finding the right girl.
Item 2. Royal Australian Air Force observer’s air gunner’s and W/T operator’s flying logbook, in the name of Lloyd George Jones, with Items 14 & 15 newspaper clippings, 32155 Lloyd George Jones collection, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
George was aboard the USSAF Douglas C-49A VH-CDC that departed Manila bound for Brisbane, on 13 November 1945, and which crashed during bad weather while attempting to land at Tacloban Airport on the Island of Leyte.
During its final approach at approximately 8:15pm local time, heavy rain and strong winds forced the pilot to pull up, circle the tower and head over the bay, eventually crashing into the sea about a mile offshore. US Naval rescue teams arrived five hours later, locating one survivor, and retrieving 16 casualties.
Items 1 & 2, Photograph & log book of Warrant Officer Lloyd George Jones, c 1943-1945. 32155 Lloyd George Jones collection, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
The aircraft was one of the fleet of Douglas aircraft operated by the Australian National Airways (ANA) on behalf of the USAAF and the Government of Australia and was carrying troops from the American forces (USAAC).
In 1946 the sole survivor of the crash Harold J. McCabe of the 1st Light Infantry (US Army), wrote to George’s father Arnold; as did Ernest Henry Rawson of Perth, who lost his own son Warrant Officer, Pilot, Haydn Selby Rawson in the same air crash.
George Jones along with two other crew members is buried at Sai Wan War Cemetery, Hong Kong; his name is located at panel 111 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial.
The State Library of Queensland holds the log book, service medals and correspondence relating to Lloyd George Jones and can be viewed in the John Oxley Library reading room, on Request.
Read more ...
- Service Record: JONES, LLOYD GEORGE : Service Number - 425645
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission: Lloyd George Jones, Sai Wan War Cemetery, Hong Kong
- Geoffrey Goodall's Aviation History Website
- Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)
- Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History (ADF serials)
- Aviation Safety Network
Discover ...
- Collection Guide: 31255 Lloyd George Jones collection
- View the Collection: at the John Oxley Reading Room, State Library of Queensland
Comments
Your email address will not be published.
We welcome relevant, respectful comments.