Squadron Leader McCORMACK, DAVID WILLIAM (1917-1944)

[spidge]

This one is closer to home for me. He was educated at St Coleman's School, Fitzroy, which is my older Brothers school and Christian Brothers' College, (Parade) East Melbourne where I went in the early 60's.


McCORMACK, DAVID WILLIAM (1917-1944), air force officer, was born on 27 November 1917 at Footscray, Melbourne, third child of David McCormack, a Victorian-born fitter, and his wife Maria Josephine, née Kennedy, who came from Ireland. Educated at St Coleman's School, Fitzroy, and Christian Brothers' College, (Parade) East Melbourne, young David worked as a clerk, as a salesman, and as an electrical mechanic with the State Electricity Commission of Victoria. On 21 July 1940 he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force under the Empire Air Training Scheme. He was 5 ft 9 ins (175 cm) tall, with brown eyes and dark hair that reflected his Irish descent.
Selected as a trainee pilot, McCormack attended No.4 Elementary Flying Training School, Mascot, Sydney (August-October 1940), and No.1 Service Flying Training School, Camp Borden, Canada (November 1940-February 1941). He was commissioned in February 1941. Arriving in Britain in the following month, he completed the course at No.55 Operational Training Unit. On 26 May he was posted to No.615 Squadron, Royal Air Force, which was then equipped with the Hurricane IIa; in November he was promoted flight lieutenant. Fighter Command was on the offensive in 1941. McCormack took part in hazardous, low-level attacks in Belgium and northern France, and against enemy shipping in the North Sea. In February 1942 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross: the citation noted his 'determination in the face of enemy fire' and the 'inspiring' example he set for others.
In March McCormack embarked with his squadron for India and the war against Japan. Based in Bengal, the unit adapted rapidly to new conditions of air fighting. By November McCormack was in action in the Arakan region of Burma, carrying out long-distance sorties over inhospitable terrain. For his bravery he was awarded a Bar to his D.F.C. (June 1943) and mentioned in dispatches (1945). Having been detached to training duties in April 1943, he took command of No.615 Squadron in February 1944 and was promoted squadron leader on 1 July.
The unit had converted to Spitfires which it used mainly in a ground-attack role during the second battle of the Arakan (from February 1944) and the Japanese siege of Imphal, Manipur (March-June). On 29 May McCormack clearly demonstrated his skill as a pilot. In an engagement with enemy fighters his Spitfire's engine developed a glycol leak. With his windscreen obscured by oil and his engine barely functioning, he navigated over mountains and made a forced landing on a waterlogged airstrip.
On 10 August 1944 McCormack led sixteen Spitfires on a flight from Palel, Imphal, to the squadron's new base at Biagachi, near Calcutta. En route they encountered the most violent type of monsoonal storm; his aircraft was one of eight that crashed, and he was killed; his body was recovered and buried in Calcutta (Bhowanipore) war cemetery. Members of No.615 Squadron took up a subscription for a remembrance window in St Augustine's Catholic Church, Yarraville, Melbourne. McCormack had been the epitome of the aggressive World War II pilot of single-seat fighter and ground-attack aircraft.
Select Bibliography

G. Odgers, Air War Against Japan 1943-1945 (Canb, 1957); Age (Melbourne), 26 June 1945; PR 88/083 and AWM 65 (Australian War Memorial). More on the resources
Author: John McCarthy
Print Publication Details: John McCarthy, 'McCormack, David William (1917 - 1944)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 15, Melbourne University Press, 2000, pp 180-181.

[liverpool annie]

I wonder how many more were disenchanted enough to talk about it ??

India. C. 1944-06. Portrait of Flight Lieutenant D. W. McCormack DFC and Bar RAAF, a member of an RAF unit in India.

ID Number:
PR88/083
Title: McCormack, David William (Squadron Leader, DFC & Bar 615 Sqn RAF d: 1944 )
Maker: McCormack, David William
Object type: Diary
Date made: 1945
Measurements: 1 ITEM
Summary: EXTRACTS FROM DIARY DETAILING DISENCHANTMENT WITH SERVICE LIFE IN ENGLAND AND LOW OPINION OF BRITISH HANDLING OF THE WAR AGAINST THE JAPANESE, 1942-45
Copyright: External copyright
Access: Open
Related unit: 615 Squadron RAF
Related place: India; United Kingdom: England

AWM Collection Record: PR88/083 - McCormack, David William (Squadron Leader, DFC & Bar 615 Sqn RAF d: 1944 )

[liverpool annie]

Members of No.615 Squadron took up a subscription for a remembrance window in St Augustine's Catholic Church, Yarraville, Melbourne

Maybe an email here would get you a picture of the window !

St. Augustine's Church, Melbourne, Australia

[Antipodean Andy]

The church is close to where Jodi works and would take me about 15-20 minutes to get to from work. Have a dentist's appointment on Friday so leaving work early. Might see if we can pop in.

St. Augustine's Church, Melbourne, Australia

He was certainly with 615 for a long time. Does anyone know if any records are accessible for 615 or even 55 OTU?

[Antipodean Andy]

It looks like an early EATS enlistment as well. I'll cross-reference with Bush Cotton's Hurricanes Over Burma as he was in the first training group, IIRC, and Ron Cundy's Gremlin On My Shoulder as he was also fairly early.

[liverpool annie]

Originally Posted by Antipodean Andy

It looks like an early EATS enlistment as well. I'll cross-reference with Bush Cotton's Hurricanes Over Burma as he was in the first training group, IIRC, and Ron Cundy's Gremlin On My Shoulder as he was also fairly early.

Another story of suffering and survival is that of John Payne, one of a pair of twin brothers flying Spitfires with 615 Squadron in Burma, who survived being shot down by a Japanese Zero. Although wounded, he struggled to safety through rugged jungle and Japanese lines, in constant fear of snakes and tigers

HSC Online

[liverpool annie]

Originally Posted by liverpool annie

Another story of suffering and survival is that of John Payne, one of a pair of twin brothers flying Spitfires with 615 Squadron in Burma, who survived being shot down by a Japanese Zero. Although wounded, he struggled to safety through rugged jungle and Japanese lines, in constant fear of snakes and tigers

HSC Online

Found this ...

AWM Collection Record: SEA0204 - Nidania, Arakan, Burma. 29 March 1945. Twin brothers flying with No. 615 'Churchill's Own' (Spitfire) Squadron RAF on the Burma front are 409953 Warrant Officer (WO) John Payne (left) and 409957 ...

[Antipodean Andy]

Thanks Annie. Had not heard of John Payne. Will follow up.

EDIT: don't need to now. Thanks. I wonder if they're still alive...since they grew up in Hampton, Victoria...

[Antipodean Andy]

AWM Collection Record: REL32642 - Drogue parachute : Warrant Officer J E Payne RAAF, 615 Squadron RAF

Silk drogue parachute used by Flight Sergeant John Ennis Payne when bailing out of his Spitfire. Payne was shot down by a Japanese fighter on 17 June 1944 behind enemy lines in Burma. He bailed out at low altitude, but was saved when his parachute caught in a tree. He was befriended by local Naga tribesmen, who assisted him in returning to Allied lines; a walk consisting of three days and four nights. The tribesmen also recovered the drogue parachute and presented it to Payne. Payne and his twin brother Alfred, both served with 615 Squadron, attacking Japanese communications in West and South Burma. The twins were born in Melbourne in August 1922 and both enlisted in November 1941. Prior to his service John Payne worked as a clerk for the Army Finance Department. He was discharged from service on 22 October 1948 with the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

[spidge]

Originally Posted by liverpool annie

Maybe an email here would get you a picture of the window !

St. Augustine's Church, Melbourne, Australia

This church is in Bourke St Melbourne at the western end of the city. My niece was married there.

Yarraville is a suburb about 10 kms away?