Bearers, probably non-commissioned officers and airmen of 77 Squadron RAAF, bringing the casket ...

Bearers, probably non-commissioned officers and airmen of 77 Squadron RAAF, bringing the casket containing the remains of 033272 Pilot Officer (Plt Offr) William Percy Harrop to the burial plot in what is now the Australian section of the United Nations Cemetery at Pusan on 26 January 1951. The chaplain conducting the service, Chaplain A.W.A. Laing of 3rd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), bare-headed and at the right, having led the burial party to the burial site, is apparently moving to the foot of the graves. The remains of Plt Offr Harrop and 031401 Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) Graham Strout were recovered in late December 1950 - early January 1951 by an RAAF search team, at RAAF Air Board direction, from where their Mustang aircraft had been shot down in South Korea; Strout was shot down on 7 July 1950 in the area of Pukpyong near Samchok, on the north-east coast, and Harrop on 3 September 1950 near Waegwan, some 120 km north-west of Pusan. The RAAF search team comprised Sqn Ldr Esmond New, an RAAF Presbyterian chaplain with extensive knowledge of Korea, its people and language from prior to World War II, and Sergeant (Sgt) Tom Henderson, a World War II veteran of RAAF search and rescue in New Guinea, Java and New Britain. The casket appears to be covered with a Union Jack, however it could be a large folded Australian blue ensign ; on top of the flag is possibly a pilot's leather flying helmet. The casket containing the remains of Sqn Ldr Strout was to be placed to the left of that of Plt Offr Harrop for a combined burial service.