Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Friday 30 June 1944, page 3


GRP-CAPT BALMER MISSING

Grp-Capt John Raeburn Balmer, OBE, DFC, of Bendigo, commander of a RAAF Lancaster squadron in the UK and formerly commander of a famous Beaufort torpedo squadron in New Guinea, has been reported

missing in air operations over Europe. In June, 1942. Grp-Capt Balmer led the Beauforts on their first strike in the SW Pacific, a mission which resulted in the sinking of the J a panese freighter Tonyo Maru off the end of the airstrip at Lae.

Before joining the RAAF as a cadet in 1932 he studied law at Melbourne University, and as a racing motorist was noted for his record-breaking trip from Darwin to Adelaide in July, 1936, when he took nine hours

off the existing record.

Group Captain J. R,

Balmer