P03193.008 Accession Number: P03193.008

Description

The burial service on 26 January 1951 for 031401 Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) Graham Strout and 033272 Pilot Officer (Plt Offr) William Percy Harrop, both of 77 Squadron RAAF, in the Australian section of what is now the United Nations Cemetery at Pusan. The remains of both pilots had been 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 Squadron Leader (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 chaplain conducting the service, Chaplain A.W.A. Laing of 3rd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), stands bare-headed at the foot of both caskets. Plt Offr Harrop's casket, on the right, 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. Sqn Ldr Strout's casket, on the left, seems to have a similar flag arrangement, however no items appear to be superimposed. The bearer party stands around both caskets, while Air Commodore (Air Cdre) A.M.Charlesworth RAAF, Chief of Staff Headquarters British Commonwealth Occupation Force, on the left, and Sqn Ldr R.Cresswell, Commanding Officer 77 Squadron RAAF, stand behind the bearer party facing the heads of the caskets.