Request For Assistance. Seeking Pilot: Morrow

[darren.crick]

G'day Guys... another request for assistance from Darren Hutchinson from the ABC.

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Hello Darren and Bob it has been a long time but we are still on air trying to piece together the puzzles of our viewers. I had quite an interesting request that came through a few days ago that I'm currently struggling with and I'm hoping you can help ME! Basically a woman is writing in on behalf of her father who wants to be reunited with a pilot that he met in 1945.


Text below from Lyn McFarlane...

"When Japan surrendered in September 1945, his unit was on Tarakan and he was in hospital in on Morotai. He and his two mates who had also been in hospital believed that because of their 6 years of overseas service they were due for immediate discharge under the 5x2 plan. They were instead transferred to another camp and after weeks of frustration decided to return to Australia (AWL).

With false papers obtained from a US camp, they boarded a Liberator which was returning to Darwin for an overhaul. Their epic journey ended with fire and ambulance crews on the Darwin tarmac. Having flown the Liberator on three engines for ten minutes and two engines for two hours Captain Morrow successfully landed the plane".

So what I'm really hoping to discover is the first name of Captain Morrow and if possible a little more about this incident. Many thanks as always, I hope you can help.


Best,

Darren Hutchinson
Researcher - Can We Help?

ABC
GPO Box 9994
East Perth, 6848

PH: (08) 9220 2844
hutchinson.darren@abc.net.au

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Further info... from Bob Livingstone

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There were 61 Morrows who served in the RAAF during WWII -!!

Of those, I see 10 who are possible, but your best bet is:

Name MORROW, FREDERICK ARTHUR HENRY
Service Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number 405050
Date of Birth 15 Sep 1912
Place of Birth WOOLGOOLGA, NSW
Date of Enlistment 6 Jan 1941
Locality on Enlistment Unknown
Place of Enlistment BRISBANE, QLD
Next of Kin MORROW, ALFRED
Date of Discharge 31 Jan 1946
Rank Flying Officer
Posting at Discharge 24 Squadron
WW2 Honours and Gallantry None for display
Prisoner of War No


I am not aware of the incident - no crash, no story! 24 Squadron was a B-24 Liberator unit so he MAY have been the guy you are looking for.

Good luck,

Bob

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any help appreciated...

Darren

[herkman]

How about trying the Australian Liberator association, whilst they are about to fold (see my previous post, they may be able to help

Col

[darren.crick]

thanks Herkman, I'll suggest they do that!!!

[Dean]

Are we sure this is not a USAAF Liberator?

[darren.crick]

To be honest we are not sure if anything and neither are they, however the name suggested as being the pilots name and unit have one tie up....

[gordon]

I'm leaning towards Dean suggestion of a USAAF Liberator. With a rank of Captain, he sounds more American than Australian. If that is the case there are a lot of Lib units to get through.

Also the Australians look after their Libs better than the Yanks so we would never have to fly for 2 hours on 2 engines. ;)

Gordon