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Warrant Officer Frederick Raymond LOVE

459 RAAF Squadron

Service No. 413623

Date of Birth: 11 Dec 1920

Place of Birth: PAMBULA, NSW

Date of Enlistment: 12 Sep 1941

Missing In Action: 14 Jul 1944 (missing over target Rhodes Island Italy 1944) 

Roll of Honour: BEGA NSW

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The Late W.O Frederick Raymond Love of Quaama via Bega, South Coast, New South Wales, Australia.  Joined the RAAF at 19 years of age, finished training in England where he became very sick with a bad cough etc.  He put in for  a warmer climate and was sent to Egypt and near Rhodes Island.

 

After many raids he went missing over the target, a direct hit, his crew was the only plane not to return out of twenty stated one of the best, sadly missed, having been on many raids by his log book.

 

Missing Crew 30-31 May 1944

P/Off I.M. Yeates, RAAF

WO J.E. Snaddon, RAAF

WO L.R. Abrahams, RAAF

WO F.R. Love, RAAF (aged 23)

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Aircraft:

Ventura MkV JS 960 'R'

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They filled up with petrol, 8.00 pm 13/7/1944, hit about 1.00 am.

L to R -- W. O. Fred Love, John Snaddon, Leo Abrahams. all missing 14/7/44, 

Not in photo is missing Pilot Ian Yeates

Missing Crew - W. Officers - Leo Abrahams - Jack Snaddon - Ian Yeates and Fred Love (aged 23)

They went missing off Rhodes Island - Italy 1944

Enlisted:  12 September 1941 for the duration of the war and 12 months thereafter.

 

Musterings:

Aircrew V                               12 September 1941

Aircrew V (G)                         04 December 1941

Aircrew II (G)                         25 June 1942

Wireless Air Gunner              23 July 1942

WAG                                     11 March 1944

 

Promotions:

Aircraftman 2                        12 September 1941

Leading Aircraftman             06 December 1941

Sergeant                               23 July 1942

Flight Sergeant                     23 January 1943

Warrant Officer                     23 January 1944

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Postings:

2 Recruit Centre                                   Sydney                               12-09-1941

2 Initial Training Schooll                       Bradfield Park                    12-09-1941

2 Wireless & Gunnery School              Parkes                                10-12-1941

2 Bomb & Gunnery School                  Port Pirie                             29-06-1942

2 Embarkation Depot                           Bradfield Park                    24-07-1942

Embarked                                            Sydney                               17-10-1942

Disembarked                                       United Kingdom                 16-12-1942

3 Personnel Reception Centre             Bournemouth                     16-12-1942

10 (Observer) Adv Flying Unit             Dumfries                             11-01-1943

11 Radio School                                  Hooton Park                        03-03-1943

RAF Station                                          Bridgenorth                        14-04-1943

5 Personnel Despatch Centre             Blackpool                            04-05-1943

Embarked                                            United Kingdom                 18-05-1943

Disembarked                                       Egypt                                  01-09-1943

1 (ME) Aircrew Reception Centre        Egypt                                  01-09-1943

RAF Station                                          Gianaclis                            25-09-1943

459 Squadron                                      Alexandria                          05-01-1944

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Attachments:

1 Air Observer School                         Cootamundra                      07-8-1942-18-08-1942

 

Death officially presumed 14 July 1944, lost at sea.

 

On the night of 14 July 1944 at approximately 2000 hours, Ventura JT 336 took off from Nicosia Aerodrome, Cyprus on a bombing mission to Calatao Aerodrome, Rhodes.

 

Honours & Awards:

1939-1945 - Star

Italy Star

Defence Medal

War Medal 1939-45

Australian Service Medal 1939-45

 

Additional Information:

Son of John Theodroe and Phoebe Harriet Love, of Quaama, NSW, Australia.

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