Pilot Officer Rayden Kingsley Ross DUNNING
15 Oct 1916 – 25 Oct 1942
Rayden Kingsley Ross DUNNING was born in Ramco on October 15, 1916 to Rayden Osmond John and Eva Beatrice Caroline Dunning. After studying at Ramco, Waikerie and Unley, Rayden worked at the WAIKERIE Branch of the STATE BANK of SA for three years. He transferred to work at the Kimba Branch for a further two years and then joined the RAAF.
Completing his initial training in Tasmania and Victoria Rayden gained his wings and was posted to WA where he was involved in convoy escorts and reconnaissance duties. After 8 months on these duties Rayden was posted to a “special training” course which was cut short when Japan entered the war. Rayden was then posted to an island in the northern areas for five or six weeks.
He was brought back with his group to “the Northern Gateway”, and on February 19 experienced a bombing raid from the ground when the Japanese bombed the area. Soon Sergeant DUNNING was posted to Adelaide again and completed his “special training course”. He left for the North again on September 23rd as the pilot in charge of a South Australian crew of which he was very proud.
One month of action later, on October 25th, 1942, the crew were listed as “Missing In Action” after being involved in action and air operations over Timor. Their fate is still not known. On the 29th June, 1946, (after the completion of the war and almost 4 years since the plane and crew went missing), the RAAF listed Rayden DUNNING and his crew as “Missing presumed dead”.
Rayden DUNNING, his crew and other brave men who lost their lives but have not been recovered, are commemorated on the Northern Territory Memorial, Kimba War Memorial and at the Australian War Memorial on the Roll of Honour.
DUNNING Street in WAIKERIE is named for him. Rayden is also commemorated with a tree and plaque here in the WAIKERIE War Memorial Gardens.
