Warrant Officer [Air Gunner]

John Spencer Horan

MiD (WW2)

Awards

Conflict: 
WW2
Additional Information: 

Son of Phillip and Doris Louise Horan, of Manurewa, Auckland, New Zealand; husband of Grace Horan (nee Whitehead), of Greenwich, London.

References:
  • CWGC
NZ WAR GRAVES

Biographical Notes:

Received Sunday, p.m LONDON, Jan. 27. Mortally wounded, Warrant Officer John Horan, of Auckland, rear gunner of a reconnaissance Sea Otter off the Burma coast, struggled to his feet, his jammed guns against his cheat, and continued the battle against six Japanese planes. Horan’s left hand had been shot off, but he thrust the navigator, Flight-Sergeant J. A. Lawson, of Auckland, aside to reach the guns. The Sea Otter’s engine caught fire, the instrument panel was shattered, the flaps were shot away, the tail was ablaze and Japanese bullets were ripping through the fuselage. The Japanese attacked three times. Horan was again wounded in the head, but his fire did not falter and he was still firing when the pilot beached the plane. Horan died soon afterwards. Spitfires intercepted the Japanese attackers, shooting down five. Horan's widow and infant child are living in England.

MANAWATU TIMES, VOLUME 70, ISSUE 24, 29 JANUARY 1945, PAGE 5

 

Public Contributions:

There are no public contributions written for this casualty

Personal Tributes:

Casualty

Service Number: 
40608
Name:
John Spencer Horan
Rank: 
Warrant Officer
Additional Rank:
Air Gunner
Date of Birth:
Not known
Date of Enlistment:
Not known
Unit:
Royal New Zealand Air Force, 292 (RAF) Squadron

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:
Died of wounds
Date of Death:
09 January 1945
Day of Death:
Tuesday
Age at Death: 
24
Conflict: 
WW2

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Body:
Royal New Zealand Air Force

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery Reference: 
4. G. 16.
Cemetery Location: 
Myanmar
John Spencer Horan
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