November 1941;
Group portrait of No 4 Initial Training
School, RAAF, Course No
21, C Squadron, Flight 11. Eric Hurrell is
seated, second from the left.
(Picture courtesy of RAAF Historical Society
via awm.au.gov)
181 squadron was part
of 124 wing and was equipped with Typhoon
fighter-bombers. Part of the 2nd tactical
Air Force, the wing was sent to the mainland
of Europe after the Normandy invasion. It
was tasked with all kinds of missions to
support the ground troops. 181 squadron
moved from base to base. In January to April
they were stationed in Holland at Eindhoven
and Helmond airbases.
On 27 April 1945 F/O
Eric Hurrell was killed., probably in
Germany. The exact circumstances and place
of his death are not known. It is thought
that he was first buried in Germany and that
an AMerican Graves Registration Company
recovered his remains and reburied them at
Margraten American Cemetery. Then, after the
war, his remains were reburied at Nederweert
War Cemetery, where he lies today.
The above pictures were taken on 24 March
1945. They show Eric and "Jacky"
the pet jackdaw of No. 181 Squadron RAF. (R.A.A.F.
via www.awm.au.gov)
F/O Eric Hurrell is
buried at Nederweert War Cemetery, grave IV.
D. 2.
