A friendship formed over decades-old mystery
A Norwegian family who helped this Mackay man find the site of his brother's death will visit this month.
Mackay
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KEITH Lambert Hamilton's beaufighter was shot down during World War II over a fjord in Norway.
The area was supposed to be neutral, but German ships had hidden in the fjord and on April 25, 1945 the RAAF 455 Squadron attacked. Keith went down with his plane in the German counter attack, only seven days before the war ended. He was only 20.
But the warrant officer's family at home in Mackay had no idea where his life ended.
His brother Ian Hamilton, who was 10 at the time Keith died, made it his mission in 1979 to find out all the details of the RAAF pilot's final flight and resting place.
From the just released secret documents from London, to the Australian War Memorial, the Commonwealth War Graves Commissioner and more, Mr Hamilton left no stone unturned in the search for his older brother.
Finally, Mr Hamilton tracked the air raid to Fede Fjord, just outside the town of Flekkefjord, in Norway.
"After getting all this information together, I wrote to the police station in Flekkefjord,” Mr Hamilton said.
Keith's raid was the last of the war, so Mr Hamilton felt it would be remembered by the local people.
Policeman Arvid Sostrand took it upon himself to take up the search for Mr Hamilton's brother from his end.
"We had letters going back and forth to him, and the upshot was he was even able to say exactly where the planes flew in the raid and where my brother's plane was attacked by German fighters and crashed into the sea,” he said.
Mr Hamilton and his wife Valerie visited Mr Sostrand's family in 1980 and 2002, touring the area including where his brother's plane went down.
The Sostrand family began placing a wreath on the crash site each anniversary of the attack and raising an Australian Flag at their home on Anzac Day.
The Hamilton and Sostrand families have remained friends for decades and now they will be reunited this month when the Norwegian family visit Australia for the first time.
"I said we'll put you up, and Ole Gunnar (Mr Sostrand's son) laughed ... at that stage there were eight of them coming,” Mr Hamilton said.
On July 18, seven members of the Sostrand family will arrive and enjoy everything the Mackay region has to offer.
Mr Hamilton has organised a range of activities, including a visit to Cape Hillsborough, Eungella and Airlie Beach.
Mr Hamilton said he was pleased to be able to return the favour of the family who had helped him find where his brother died.
Originally published as A friendship formed over decades-old mystery
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