On 21 October 1944, HMAS "Australia" was supporting the landings in Leyte Gulf. Off Leyte Island, gunners from HMAS "Australia" and HMAS "Shropshire" fired at and hit a Japanese aircraft. Initially, the plane flew away from the ships, but it subsequently turned and dived into "Australia". The plane struck the superstructure of the "Australia" above the bridge. Although the 200 kg (440 pound) bomb carried by the plane failed to explode, burning fuel and debris were spewed over a large area. Dechaineux was disembowelled by shrapnel and died a few hours later. He was buried at sea that night. Another 30 crew members died as a result of the attack; among the wounded was Commodore Collins.