Morotai, Netherland East Indies. 25 October 1945. Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) B. T. McLaughlin ...

Morotai, Netherland East Indies. 25 October 1945. Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) B. T. McLaughlin (right), a Catholic RAAF Chaplain, and Flt Lt T. W. Scott (left), an Anglican RAAF Chaplain conduct burial rites for two Australian Spitfire pilots, as one of the caskets is lowered into the ground. 405875 Flt Lt B. B. (Barney) Newman, 79 Squadron, of Ayr, Qld, was killed in action during a strike against a radio station in the Wasile Bay are of Halmahera on 2 August 1945, he was 79 Squadron's last casualty of the war. 432589 Flt Lt E. McL. (Mac) Stevenson, 452 Squadron, of Dubbo, NSW, died in captivity on Halmahera after being tortured by the Japanese. He was captured when he was forced to ditch his Spitfire on a reef close to shore during a strike against Japanese installation on Ternate Island on 13 January 1945. Lowering the casket into the ground (left to right) is 400735 Flt Lt Len S. Reid DFC, 408021 Squadron Leader Ken E. James, Commanding Officer 79 Squadron, and 443666 Flight Sergeant Robert J. (Bob) Davies. Front row, left to right: first five unidentified, Flight Sergeant Jim Davidson, 437523 Flying Officer Hugh Kennare and 408891 Flying Officer Norman A. Smithells. (Donor H. Kennare)