Biography of Charles William Leahy · Spitfire Association

Squadron/s: 79 SQN
Rank On Discharge/Death: Warrant Officer (WOFF)
Mustering / Specialisation: Pilot
Date of Birth: 15 Nov 1920
Date of Death: 22 Sep 1945
Contributing Author/s: Compiled by Vince Conant

2016

The Spitfire Association

Date of birth - 15 Nov 1920
Place of birth - STRATHFIELD NSW
Place of enlistment - SYDNEY
Next of Kin - LEAHY JOHN

AWM 148 Roll of Honour

Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Conflict / Operation: Second World War, 1939-1945
Conflict eligibility date: Second World War, 1939-1947
Date of death: 22 September 1945
Place of death: Halmahera Island, Netherlands East Indies
Cause of death: Accidental
Cemetery or memorial details: Ambon War Cemetery, Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia
Source: AWM148 Roll of Honour cards, 1939-1945 War, Air Force

Aircraft Record

A58-489 LF.VIII MT509

Rec 3AD ex UK 04/07/44.Allocated 6AD for temporary storage 30/08/44. Rec 6AD 06/10/44. Allocated 79 Sqn RAAF 01/11/44. Rec 79 Sqn RAAF 06/12/44. Rec 6AD ex 79 Sqn RAAF 15/01/45. Rec 79 Sqn RAAF and Coded UP-L 23/03/45. Damaged slightly by enemy AA Fire 1430 hrs 10/05/45 to starboard mainplane over Doro Village. Pilot, F/Lt J D Rumbold Serv#408704 not injured. Rec 9RSU 15/05/45. Post war accident 0930hrs 22/09/45 when aircraft, now coded as UP-E, was flying low over Galela Lake piloted by W/O C W Leahy Serv#421683. Aircraft's airscrew struck water with the aircraft breaking up on contact and sinking. ADF Serials

Squadron in which Charles served

79 SQN

Photographs

Morotai, Netherland East Indies. 9 September 1945. Portrait of the maintenance and servicing personnel of "A" and "B" Flights Groundstaff and Workshop Section and some pilots of 79 Squadron, RAAF. Behind them are three Spitfire Mk VIII aircraft of 79 Squadron. Identified are: Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) O. Jenkin, Engineer Officer (seated in centre) and to his left are pilots, Warrant Officer Clem Hart, 400735 Flt Lt Len Reid DFC, 402932 Flt Lt Bill Andrews, 443666 Flight Sergeant Bob Davies, and Flying Officer Bob Allen. (Donor H. Kennare)