Cowan-Hunt, James George (Flying Officer, b.1916 - d.1942)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 402318 Flying Officer James George 'Bill' Cowan-Hunt, 459 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia, 1938-1946.

Wallet 1 of 1- Collection consists of two folders of material relating to Flying Officer Cowan-Hunt.

Folder 1 of 2: Consists of one autograph book of Flying Officer Cowan-Hunt. This autograph book was given to Flying Officer Cowan-Hunt for his birthday by his sister in 1938, and contains short poems and well wishes written by family and friends dating from August 1938 to October 1941. The latest two entries were written after Cowan-Hunt’s death, in December 1942 and 1946. This autograph book also contains a loose page of signatures of men serving on the HMAS Sydney.

Folder 2 of 2: Consists of one fold-out book of ships flags, created by Flying Officer Cowan-Hunt. Flags of many countries and naval services are represented, and are hand-painted and labelled.

Flying Officer Cowan-Hunt enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on 19 August 1940 and became a pilot. He went on to serve with 459 Squadron, but died in a flying battle in the Middle East on 30 June 1942. His grave was later unable to be located. Flying Officer Cowan-Hunt is commemorated at the Alamein Memorial at El Alamein, Egypt.