Operation: Armed Reconnaissance

Date: 12th April 1945 (Thursday)

Unit: 454 Squadron, RAAF

Type: Baltimore V

Serial: FW740

Code: O

Base: Cesenatico, Italy

Location: Porto Nona, Medicina

Pilot: Plt Off. Colin Ware Evans 421797 RAAF Age 27. Killed

Nav: WO. John Harris O'Keefe 427723 RAAF Age 29. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Fg Off. Errol Johnston 412316 RAAF Age 28. Killed

Air Gnr: WO. Edwin George Murphy 425721 RAAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 23:00 hrs from Cesenatico to recce roads - hit and brought down by anti-aircraft fire at Porto Nona, Medicina at 23:30 hrs.

Enzo Lanconelli researcher and webmaster for Aereiperduti has determined that the aircraft crashed at Bando di Argenta. Additional information and photographs of the crash site can viewed here.

Later that day on a similar operation Baltimore V FW716 Q Flown by 31 year old, Fg Off, James William Alexander Duffy 428431 RAAF shot down in the same area - all four killed. Flt Sgt. ‘Taffy’ Griffiths flying Baltimore V FW793 G made a hash of his landing, overshooting the runway with the aircraft turning over. All the crew escaped serious injury.

Above as described. Below original grave markers (courtesy AWM)

Burial details:

Plt Off. Colin Ware Evans. Argenta Gap War Cemetery I.F.14. Born on the 23rd July 1917 at Bronte, the son of Charles and Sarah Anne Evans and husband of Violet Merle Evans, of Edgecliff, New South Wales, Australia. Grave inscription reads: "His Endless Courage And Devotion To Duty Ever Remembered".

WO. John Harris O'Keefe. Argenta Gap War Cemetery I.F.13. Born on the 30th August 1915 at Boulder, the son of John and Rosalie O'Keefe and husband of Coral O'Keefe (née Dick), of Boulder, Western Australia. Grave inscription reads: "We Will Ever Remember".

Fg Off. Errol Johnston. Argenta Gap War Cemetery I.F.16. Born on the 31st August 1916 at Neutral Bay, New South Wales Australia. Son of Adam John Johnston and Cecilia Ann Johnston of Curlewis Street, Bondi, Sydney, New South Wales. Grave inscription reads: "His Duty. . Fearlessly And Nobly Done. Ever Remembered".

WO. Edwin George Murphy. Argenta Gap War Cemetery I.F.15. Born on the 23rd May 1921 at Bundaberg, the son of Hubert and Evelyn Murphy and husband of Dora Calder Murphy, of Bardon, Queensland, Australia. Grave inscription reads: "Rest In Peace".

Thanks to Enzo Lanconelli for the information about the crash site and link (Jan 2022). For further details our thanks to the following sources shown below.