| Accession Number | P03251.023 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white |
| Physical description | Black & white |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia |
| Date made | c 1943 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Studio portrait of 439836 Flying Officer (FO) Keith Henry Kearney, RAAF. As a 16 year old, Keith ...
Description
Studio portrait of 439836 Flying Officer (FO) Keith Henry Kearney, RAAF. As a 16 year old, Keith Kearny joined the 6th Light Horse, and two years later at the outbreak of the Second World War, he tried to enlist in the RAAF, but was rejected for medical reasons. When the 6th Light Horse was converted to the 6th Motor Regiment, he did not qualify for overseas duty due to being medically unfit, however, he underwent surgery and was granted six months of leave to recuperate. Following this, he reapplied for the RAAF and was finally accepted after an intensive training course and interviews, entering as a leading aircraftman. After training as a pilot at Uranquinty, NSW, he was commissioned and was posted to 84 Squadron based in Townsville, Qld where he was involved in operational sorties to New Guinea. He died in an accident when two aircraft collided at Ross River, Qld, on 6 April 1945, aged 24.