In Memoriam - Those Air Force Pilots/Crews who died on this day in WW2.

463 SQUADRON RAAF WORLD WAR 2 FATALITIES

Date of Death: 13 February 1945
.
Source:

AWM 64 1/342 (4) 1/343 AWM 237 (63) (64) AWM 54 779/3/129 Part 30.

Aircraft Type: Lancaster
Serial number: NG 234
Radio call sign: JO – E
Unit: 463 Sqn RAAF

Summary:

Lancaster NG234 took off from RAF Waddington at 1733 hours on the night of 13/14th
February 1945 to Bomb Dresden, Germany. Bomb load 1 x 4000lb, 1500 x 4lb
incendiaries. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to
base. Fifteen aircraft from the Squadron took part in the raid and one of these NG234
failed to return. The mission was participating in Operation Thunderclap in support of the
Russian Army.

Crew:

RAAF 429281 FO Fernley-Stott, N C Captain (Pilot) †
RAAF 424791 PO McManus, T B (Navigator) †
RAAF 432348 Flt Sgt B T T Wilson, (Bomb Aimer) †
RAAF 429178 Flt Sgt M J Coleman, (Wireless Operator Air) †
RAF Sgt R Marriott, (Flight Engineer) †
RAF Flt Sgt J Johnson, (Mid Upper Gunner) †
RAAF 437705 Flt Sgt A M White, (Rear Gunner) POW

Six of the crew were killed and Flt Sgt White became a POW. Five of those killed are
buried in the 1939-1945 War Cemetery Berlin. Flt Sgt Johnson (RAF) is listed as missing
and his name is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede, Surrey,
UK.

In a later report Flt Sgt White stated “ A/c was hit by flak and exploded immediately and
on fire. No orders given. Injured on face and back with slight cuts and burns. Saw no
others bale out. All in A/c as far as I know. I was thrown out at 18,000ft. .Pulled ripcord
and came down in Dresden.. Didn’t see crash. Liberated by Americans 29/4/45.”


Fernley-Stott_NC.jpgMcManus_TB.jpgWilson_BTT.jpgColeman_MJ.jpgBerlin 39-45 Cemetery 20.jpgBerlin War Cemetery 19.11.08.jpg

In Memory of
Flying Officer
Norman Charles Fernley-Stott
429281, Royal Australian Air Force who died on 13 February 1945 Age 20
Son of Charles Joseph and Myrtle Gladys Fernley-Stott, of Campsie, New South Wales, Australia.
Remembered with Honour
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery


In Memory of
Pilot Officer
Terence Bellew McManus
424791, Royal Australian Air Force who died on 13 February 1945 Age 21
Son of Terence Bellew McManus and Veronica Agnes McManus, of Enfield, New South Wales, Australia.
Remembered with Honour
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery


In Memory of
Flight Sergeant
Bruce Thomas Talbot Wilson
432348, Royal Australian Air Force who died on 13 February 1945 Age 20
Son of Carl William and Hilda Ivy Wilson, of Kirribilli, New South Wales, Australia.
Remembered with Honour
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery

In Memory of
Flight Sergeant
Maxwell John Coleman
429178, Royal Australian Air Force who died on 13 February 1945 Age 21
Son of Frederick William and Florence Ellen Coleman, of Port Hacking, New South Wales, Australia.
Remembered with Honour
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery


In Memory of
Sergeant Flt. Engr.
Richard Marriott
1593487, 463 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 14 February 1945 Age 29
Son of William Henry Marriott, and of Annie Elizabeth Marriott, of Knipton, Leicestershire.
Remembered with Honour
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery

In Memory of
Sergeant
James Johnson
1573913, 463 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 14 February 1945 Age 20
Son of James C. and Margaret Johnson, of Leith, Edinburgh.
Remembered with Honour
Runnymede Memorial


JOHNSON, JAMES

Rank:

Sergeant

Service No:

1573913

Date of Death:

14/02/1945

Age:

20

Regiment/Service:

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve



463 Sqdn.

Panel Reference

Panel 275.

Memorial

RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

Additional Information:
Son of James C. and Margaret Johnson, of Leith, Edinburgh.

 

15th February, 1944 - 466sq RAAF - Grootegast Protestant Churchyard, Opende, (Holland) Netherlands.

466 SQUADRON RAAF WORLD WAR 2 FATALITIES

Date of Death: 15 February 1944

Source:

AWM 64 1/360 Part 1 AWM 237 (63) NAA : A705, 166/44/104.
Aircraft Type: Halifax
Serial number: HX 293
Radio call sign: HD – F
Unit: 466 Sqn RAAF

Summary:

Halifax HX293 took off from RAF Leconfield at 1711 hours on the night of 15/16th
February 1944 to bomb Berlin. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to base. Twenty aircraft from the Squadron took part in the raid and two of these including HX293 failed to return.

Crew:

RAAF 420326 Flt Sgt J D Wormald, Captain (Pilot) †
RAAF 412869 Flt Sgt F K Williams, (Navigator) †
RAAF 426168 Flt Sgt C Sheldon, (Bomb Aimer) †
RAAF 410191 Flt Sgt H C L Thomas, (Wireless Operator Air) †
RAAF 427076 Flt Sgt T F Eastcott, (Rear Gunner) †
RAAF 423003 Flt Sgt R J Newell, (Mid Upper Gunner) †
RAF Sgt J T Darwood, (Flight Engineer) †

Post war it was established that the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter (Lt Kurt Matzak NJG1) and crashed on the outskirts of the village of Opeinde 32kms WSW of Groningen, Holland. All the crew were killed and they are buried in the Grootegast Protestant Churchyard, Opende, Holland.

Leconfield Operation Order No 138 laid down :
Bomb load each aircraft : 2 x 500lb, Clusters 480 x 4 I B, 60 x 4 ‘X’ Type, 32 x 30lb I B:
Route : Base – Flamboro – 55.25N 07.00E – 55.10N 10.00E – 54.30N 12.30E – Target –
52.10N 12.50E – 52.40N 11.00E – 52.40N 08.55E – 53.40N 04.00E – Base.




I do not have the headstone photo for Darwood.

In Memory of
Flight Sergeant
Jack Dudley Wormald
420326, Royal Australian Air Force who died on 15 February 1944 Age 21
Son of William Challenger Wormald and Hilda M.ay Wormald, of Dulwich Hill, New South Wales, Australia.
Remembered with Honour
Grootegast (Opende) Protestant Churchyard

In Memory of
Flight Sergeant
Francis Kevin Williams
412869, Royal Australian Air Force who died on 15 February 1944 Age 25
Son of Thomas and Kathleen Muriel Williams, of Adamstown, New South Wales, Australia.
Remembered with Honour
Grootegast (Opende) Protestant Churchyard

In Memory of
Flight Sergeant
Colin Sheldon
426168, Royal Australian Air Force who died on 15 February 1944 Age 22
Son of Frederick Charles and Laura Sheldon; husband of Phyllis Irene Sheldon, of Stanthorpe,
Remembered with Honour
Grootegast (Opende) Protestant Churchyard

In Memory of
Flight Sergeant
Hubert Cecil Lloyd Thomas
410191, Royal Australian Air Force who died on 15 February 1944 Age 22
Son of Thomas and Sarah Jane Allen Thomas, of North Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
Remembered with Honour
Grootegast (Opende) Protestant Churchyard

In Memory of
Flight Sergeant
Thomas Frederick Eastcott
427076, Royal Australian Air Force who died on 15 February 1944 Age 19
Son of Francis Leo and Florence Anne Eastcott, of Yarloop, Western Australia.
Remembered with Honour
Grootegast (Opende) Protestant Churchyard

In Memory of
Flight Sergeant
Rex John Newell
423003, Royal Australian Air Force who died on 15 February 1944 Age 21
Son of Frank Guy and Olive May Newell, of Balgowlah, New South Wales, Australia.
Remembered with Honour
Grootegast (Opende) Protestant Churchyard

In Memory of
Sergeant Flt. Engr.
John Thomas Darwood
1164922, 466 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 15 February 1944
No NOK Listed
Remembered with Honour
Grootegast (Opende) Protestant Churchyard

 

Not on this day but on 3/4 February 1943:

My Mother's partner's, brother F/O Frederick Buchanan 108149 RAFVR born 22 Feb 1916, was piloting a Halifax W7938 on a raid 3/4th Feb 1943 to Hamburg when he was killed. He is buried at Sage War Cemetery Grave 10 D 7.The details I know of are as follows:
3rd / 4th February 1943: Halifax MkII - W7938 EY-U “Rothman U~Uncle” InformationBuilt by Handley Page (Cricklewood & Radlett) this particular aircraft was delivered to 78 Sqn between 2nd October and 13th December 1942

The crew were briefed to attack Hamburg. The ATD of the aircraft from RAF Linton on Ouse, Yorkshire was 1815

W7938/EY-U was intercepted and shot down by a night-fighter captained by Hptm Wolfgang Thimmig (III/NJG1) The aircraft crashed near Vechta, Germany.
Pilot F/O F. Buchanan +
Flight Engineer Sgt C. Milburn +
Navigator F/S H.W. Laughlan RCAF +
Bomb Aimer P/O F.A. Davies +
Wireless Operator F/S V.R. Wood +
Mid Upper Gunner Sgt W.J. Biggs +
Rear Gunner Sgt A.F. MacDonald RCAF +

Sgt Milburn and F/S Laughlan RCAF are buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany

The remainder are buried in Sage War Cemetery, Oldenburg, Germany

In addition to his grave, F/O Buchanan is also (indirectly) remembered on; the BCM in Green Park London, the 78 WWII memorial at Bubwith and the 78 Sqn Memorial at RAF Benson

 

In the early hours of 25th April 1944 Lancaster UM-K2 serial DV 177 was returning from a bombing operation to Karlsruhe in Germany. The aircraft was part of 626 Squadron in Wickenby Lincolnshire. As the aircraft passed over Norfolk they were attacked by a German Night Fighter. It is believed that the Tail Gunner was killed in this attack which also resulted in the aircraft becoming on fire from the port fuel tanks.

Eventually some ten minutes after the attack the aircraft tried to land at USAAF base Boxted in North Essex on the outskirts of Colchester (Englands oldest recorded town). The aircraft circled seemingly trying to find the airfield making left turns and flying at rooftop height, all engines were working but screaming loudly and the aircraft was making very little headway. It seems when the aircraft turned to starboard control was lost. When the bomber came down on the periphery of the airfield at 04.10 hours the tail plane detached, the remainder of the aircraft coming to land further on. In the crash all crew were killed.

On this misty April morning the Americans tried in vain to assist the crew by lighting a flare path, leaving the base open to enemy attack.

Had they managed to stay airborne for another 30 seconds they would quite probably have reached the main runway at Boxted and maybe the outcome would have been different.

On this day we remember the brave crew of UM-K2:

Pilot Murray Langtry McPherson RCAF aged 22
Flight Engineer James Douglas Mayger RAF aged 21
Navigator Francis Winburn Gunn RCAF aged 29
Air Bomber John Lander Shell RAF aged 23
Wireless Operator Dennis Randle RAF aged 22
Mid Upper Gunner Robert Edgar Hall Cameron RCAF aged 20
Tail Gunner Ernest John Fancy RAF aged 22

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ8JHLuMBz0&list=UUW4C8-kCyxXGW7tjtwKp4Lw

 

453 Sqdn RAAF - 25/04/1944 - Durnbach War Cemetery - Germany

463 SQUADRON RAAF WORLD WAR 2 FATALITIES

Date of Death: 25 April 1944.

Source:

AWM 64 (1/342 (2) 1/343 AWM 237 (63) (64) NAA : A705, 166/32/366.
W R Chorley : RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Page 190,
Volume 1944.
Aircraft Type: Lancaster
Serial number: LL 848
Radio call sign: JO – X
Unit: 463 Sqn RAAF

Summary:

Lancaster LL848 took off from RAF Waddington at 2105 hours on the night of 24/25th
April 1944 to bomb Munich, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off
and it did not return to base. Seventeen aircraft from the Squadron took part in the raid
and one of these LL848 failed to return.

Crew:

RAAF 410171 PO Page, E W Captain (Pilot)
RCAF WO T W Fair, (Navigator)
RAAF 411479 FO Braithwaite, J S (Bomb Aimer)
RAAF 426302 PO Brown, E R (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
RAF Sgt S R Crate, (Flight Engineer)
RAF Sgt R Guile, (Air Gunner)
RAAF 424570 Flt Sgt G H Noakes, (Air Gunner)

Post war it was established that the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter. The aircraft
was seen by local inhabitants to circle the village of Sulzemoos and crash in flames in a
field 2kms south east of the village. Sulzemoos.is 16 miles north west of Munich,
Germany. All the crew were killed and they are buried in the Durnbach War Cemetery.
Durnbach is a village 16kms east of Bad Tolz, a town 48kms south of Munich.

 

Exactly 70 years ago today -

Andrew Charles Mynarski was born the second son to recent Polish immigrants in Winnipeg, Manitoba on October 14, 1916. He was a quiet person, although his ready humor would come out after you got to know him. He enjoyed working with his hands, especially woodworking. Before the war, he was employed as a cutter at a local furrier where his craftsmanship was highly valued. On his own, he loved to design and build furniture.

After a brief stay in the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force shortly before his 25th birthday. He became an Air Gunner. His first operational posting was with Number 9 Squadron in October, 1943. In March, 1944, he replaced another mid upper gunner in 419 (Moose) Squadron and joined the crew with whom his name would be forever linked.

On the crew's ninth mission together, (June fifth, 1944...D-Day minus 1) they were assigned a brand new Canadian built Lancaster X....KB726.

A week later, on the night of June 12, they were to take off on the Lanc's fourth mission, their target: the rail marshalling yards at Cambrai, France. It would be the crew's 13th sortie. They would be over the target on Friday the thirteenth. While waiting to go, the crew couldn't help but think of these omens. Andy found a four leaf clover in the grass by the planes. He insisted that his closest buddy in the crew, tail gunner Pat Brophy, should take it.

Shortly after crossing the French coast, the Lancaster was briefly coned by enemy searchlights. After some evasive maneuvers, they were in the safety of darkness again. They began descending to the level of their planned attack when a Ju88 came in from astern. Its cannons blazed from below. Three explosions tore the aircraft. Both port engines were knocked out and began to flame. Hydraulic lines to the rear turret were severed and the fluid ignited, turning the rear of the fuselage into an inferno. The captain, Art de Bryne gave the order to bail out.

Warrant officer Mynarski left his post at the mid upper turret and began to make his way to the rear escape door. Through the fierce flames, he could see his friend Pat Brophy, desperately trying to escape from the immobilized rear turret. Pat was trapped. The turret had jammed in a position where the doors to escape didn't line up and, in his frantic attempts to free himself, he had broken the manual back-up system as well. By now, all of the other crew members had made their escapes from the stricken aircraft.

In complete disregard for his own safety, Andrew crawled through the flames to assist his fellow gunner. Not noticing that his own flight suit and parachute had caught fire, he fought heroically to free the turret, but all his efforts were in vain. Brophy signaled that there was nothing more he could do and that he should bail out and save himself. Reluctantly, Mynarski complied. Backing through the flames to the escape hatch, he stood up and, before jumping, he saluted his doomed comrade.

French witnesses saw him plunge earthward in flames but when they found him, he was so severely burned that he died within hours.

Ironically, Pat Brophy survived, unhurt. When the Lancaster crashed at a shallow angle, two of its twenty bombs immediately exploded, throwing the tail gunner clear. His watch stopped at 2:13 a.m., Friday, June 13, 1944.

Posthumously, with the rank of Pilot Officer, Andrew Charles Mynarski was awarded the Victoria Cross, the British Commonwealth's highest award for bravery.



Lancaster KB726 – VR-A,
RCAF No. 419 (Moose) Squadron https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/andrew-mynarski

 

9th October 1943 - 106 Sq RAF - Hanover War Cemetery, Germany

RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG
RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT
IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS
412958 Pilot Officer HAY, John Edwin

Source:

AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 166/17/336 Micro Film No 463 AFH
Commonwealth War Graves records W R Chorley : RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Page 354, Volume 1943.
Aircraft Type: Lancaster
Serial number: W 4242
Radio call sign: ZN – A
Unit: ATTD 106 SQN RAF

Summary:

Lancaster W4242 took off from RAF Syerston at 2310 hours on the night of 8/9th October 1943, detailed to bomb Hanover, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. The aircraft was one of eight aircraft from the Squadron taking part in the mission.

Crew :

RAAF 412958 PO Hay J E Captain (Pilot) (Australian)
RAF Sgt R T G Lester, (Flight Engineer)
RAF Sgt R E Burgess, (Navigator)
RAF Sgt K Saunders, (Air Bomber)
RAF Flt Sgt J F Ellins, (Wireless Air Gunner)
RAF Sgt E G H Day, (Mid Upper Gunner)
RAF Sgt H N Gustard, (Rear Gunner)

The aircraft crashed near Lichtenhorst, approx 15 miles north of Neustadt, Germany and all the crew were killed. They are buried in the Hanover War Cemetery, Germany.

Sgt Lester at 18 year of age was among the youngest on bomber operations in 1943. The Australian pilot was 20 years old and the average age of the crew was 22. Pilot Officer Hay's older brother Private Eric Stewart Hay (2/25 Batt AIF) also died in service. He was killed in action at Bona, New Guinea 23/11/1942 aged 21.

In Memory of
Pilot Officer
John Edwin Hay
412958, Royal Australian Air Force who died on 09 October 1943 Age 20
Son of George Eric and Dorothy Margaret Hay.
Remembered with Honour
Hanover War Cemetery

In Memory of
Sergeant Flt. Engr.
Ralph Thomas Gurden Lester
1098112, 106 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 09 October 1943 Age 18
Son of Ernest John Gurden Lester and Lydia Lester, of Hull.
Remembered with Honour
Hanover War Cemetery

In Memory of
Sergeant Nav.
Roy Eric Burgess
1391096, 106 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 09 October 1943 Age 22
Son of Walter Ernest and Ellen Elizabeth Burgess, of Richmond, Surrey.
Remembered with Honour
Hanover War Cemetery

In Memory of
Sergeant Air Bomber
Kenneth Saunders
1577848, 106 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 09 October 1943 Age 20
Son of John William and Isobel Clara Saunders, of Lowestoft, Suffolk.
Remembered with Honour
Hanover War Cemetery

In Memory of
Flight Sergeant W.Op./Air Gnr.
John Francis Ellins
1360106, 106 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 09 October 1943
Remembered with Honour
Hanover War Cemetery

In Memory of
Sergeant Air Gnr.
Edward George Havelock Day
1280658, 106 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 09 October 1943
Son of Charles Edward and Jane Amelia Day, of Bexleyheath, Kent.
Remembered with Honour
Hanover War Cemetery

In Memory of
Sergeant Air Gnr.
Henry Noble Gustard
1677210, 106 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 09 October 1943 Age 20
Son of William Henry and Margaret Gustard, of Haswell, Co. Durham.
Remembered with Honour
Hanover War Cemetery

 

17th October 1944 - 148sq - Special Duties - Belgrade War Cemetery, Serbia and Montenegro.

Source :

AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 16611/38/731 (Digitised)
Commonwealth War Graves records
Aircraft Type: Halifax
Serial number: JD 319
Radio call sign:
Unit: ATTD 148 SQN RAF

Summary:

Halifax JD319 on 17th October 1944, was detailed to carry out a daytime supply drop
mission in Northern Yugoslavia. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it
failed to return to base.

Crew :

RAF 1601873 Flt Sgt P H Edwards, Captain (Pilot) +
RAF 182467 Sgt D Clark, (Flight Engineer) +
RAAF 424114 Flt Sgt C G Steele +
RAF 1581777 Sgt K D Daker +
RAAF 427416 Flt Sgt E W Calder +
RAF 1899056 Sgt S H Parker POW
RAF 1880610 Sgt C W O Bromage Evaded

148SQN RAF Halifax JD319 on ammunition drop mission crashed into trees on mountain near Solcava and four crew killed:

Killed in crash.
STEELE, Charles Gibson (Flight Sergeant) 424114 RAAF /
EDWARDS, P H (Flight Sergeant) 1601873 RAF /
DAKER, K D (Sergeant) 1581777 RAF /
CLARKE, F (Sergeant) 182467 RAF /

Three others survived the crash:

Calder and Parker injured and were being cared for by Partisans. Calder killed by Germans during attack on Partisan hospital facility (12/03/1945). Parker taken POW.

All those killed except Calder are buried in the Belgrade War Cemetery (Serbia and Montenegro) Calder is Buried in Trbovlje Civil Cemetery, Slovenia however his grave is lost and he is remembered in Belgrade War Cemetery.

PARKER, S H (Sergeant) 1899056 / POW
BROMAGE, C W O (Sergeant) 1880610 – (Evaded) Survived the war

All information from casualty file for STEELE 424114 RAAF



In Memory of
Flight Sergeant Pilot
Peter Harry Edwards
1601873, 148 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 17 October 1944 Age 21
Son of Henry Rowland and Maud Ethel Edwards; husband of Brenda Mary Edwards, of East Finchley,
Middlesex.
Remembered with Honour
Belgrade War Cemetery

In Memory of
David Clark
Sergeant Flt. Engr.
1824674, 148 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 17 October 1944 Age 19
Son of David and Williamina Clark, of Coultra, Fife.
Remembered with Honour
Belgrade War Cemetery

In Memory of
Flight Sergeant
Charles Gibson Steele
424114, Royal Australian Air Force who died on 17 October 1944 Age 21
Son of Charles Oliver and Annie Beattie Steele, of Burwood, New South Wales, Australia.
Remembered with Honour
Belgrade War Cemetery

In Memory of
Sergeant Air Bomber
Kenneth Douglas Daker
1581777, 148 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 17 October 1944
No NOK LIsted
Remembered with Honour
Belgrade War Cemetery

In Memory of
Flight Sergeant
Lewis Walter Calder
427416, 148 (R.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Australian Air Force who died on 12 March 1945 Age 23
Son of Walter and Jessie Emily Calder; husband of Edith Edna Calder, of Victoria Park, Western Australia.
(Buried in Trbovlje Civil Cemetery, Slovenia).
Remembered with Honour
Belgrade War Cemetery

 

31st October 1940 - 233sq - Sola Churchyard, Norway.



From RAF Coastal Command Losses, Vol 1 -

31/10/40
233 Sqdn
Hudson II
T9377
ZS-R

Crew:

83709 P/O William Owen Weaber RAF (Of Australia)
44190 P/O B P Erskine RAF
642917 Sgt H Dean RAF
568661 Sgt J A Wallace RAF

Op: Offensive Patrol, RAF Leuchars, Time Up 10:20 hrs

Three aircraft reached the Norwegian coast in formation at 12:44 hrs six miles north of Lister and observed 1 M.V. of 3000 tons heavily laden with timber, 1 M.V. of 500 tons and (1 mile ahead of them) a Flak ship of 1000 tons, all sailing on a course of 350 degrees. All three a/c attacked the 3000 ton M.V. P/O Weaber was seen to make an attack on the M.V., but his bombs missed and he was later seen flying over the Flak ship. He was not seen again but at 12:55 hrs a sheet of flame was seen on the beach 10 miles north of Lister.

Sgt Dean has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial while the rest of the crew lie in Sola Churchyard.

10 miles west of Ogne the 1600 ton German merchant vessel ILSE L.M. RUSS with minesweeper M.1103 was unsuccessfully attacked by fifteen bombs from three Hudsons. M.1103 claimed one Hudson shot down and fighters from II/JG77 also claimed one Hudson shot down. T9377 was probably shot down by M.1103 with the Me109s attacking at the end.


Further information on William Owen Weaber pre-war!

BRISBANE, Wednesday. - "The crash occurred because the aeroplane was blown out of my control," said William Owen Weaber, aged 19 years, pilot, when giving evidence at Rockhampton today at an inquest into the deaths of James Joseph Hayes, aged 54 years; John Edward Nevin Hayes, aged 22 years; Valda Maria Hayes, aged 18 years, of Mt. Morgan, and Kathleen Weaber, aged 15 years, of Tennant Creek. The deaths occurred on December 2, 1937, when a DH50 passenger plane in which they were travelling, piloted by Weaber, crashed about a mile from the township.

The Inquest was adjourned until February 11th 1937

REPORTED MISSING

" Captain Owen Weaber, of the RAF, son of the late Mr. William Weaber, of Tennant Creek, is missing.

Mrs. Weaber has received this news by cable from England.

Great sympathy is felt for the family which has suffered great misfortune lately.

WEABER.— A tribute of love to the memory of Pilot Officer Owen William Weaber, R.A.F., reported missing, presumed killed, during air operations October 30th, 1940. Lovingly remembered. Inserted by his sorrowing Mother & Brother Kevin


In Memory of
Pilot Officer WILLIAM OWEN WEABER
aged 22,
83709, 233 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died
on 31 October 1940
Son of the late Mr William Weaber and Mrs Weaber of Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia
Remembered with honour
SOLA CHURCHYARD



In Memory of
Pilot Officer BASIL POLLOCK ERSKINE

44190, 233 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 19
on 31 October 1940
Son of Robert Magill and Eleanor Pollock Erskine, of Holywood, Co. Down, Northern Ireland.
Remembered with honour
SOLA CHURCHYARD


In Memory of
Sergeant HENRY DEAN

642917, 233 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 20
on 31 October 1940
Son of Charles Henry and Monica Annie Dean, of Stoke-on-Trent.
Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


In Memory of
Sergeant JAMES ANDREW WALLACE

568661, 233 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died on 31 October 1940
NO NOK Listed
Remembered with honour
SOLA CHURCHYARD

 

27th November 1943 - 458Sqdn RAAF - Bone War Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria

71 years ago today:

458 SQUADRON RAAF WORLD WAR 2 FATALITIES

Date of Death: 27 November 1943
Source: AWM 64 1/280 AWM 237 (63) Commonwealth War Graves records.
Aircraft Type: Wellington III
Serial number: JA142
Radio call sign: FU – X Unit:
458 Sqn RAAF

Summary:
Wellington FU – X took off from Tahir at 1445 hours on 27 November 1943 to search for a missing Beaufighter of 153 Sqn. At 1844 hours a message was received from the aircraft ‘ETA Bone 1955 hours’.

The aircraft crashed on the west side of a hill on Cape Bougaroun and was completely burnt out and the crew killed’.

Crew:
RAAF 409851 Flt Sgt Jack Richards, Captain (Pilot) †
RAF 1133860 Sgt Maurice Victor Aungier, (2nd Pilot) †
RCAF R/93155 WO Class 1 Andrew Aikman, (Navigator) †
RAAF 422702 Flt Sgt Gordon Keith Reid, (Wireless Operator) †
RAAF 410909 Flt Sgt Louis James Muschialli (SE/Operator) †
RAAF 415777 Flt Sgt Reginald Thomas Arthur Freeman, (Rear Gunner) †

All the crew are buried in the Bone War Cemetery, Algeria. The cemetery is about 5kms west of Annaba.

RAAF 409851 Flt Sgt Jack Richards, Captain (Pilot)
Son of Albert Ernest and Evelyn Lilian Richards, of Williamstown, Victoria, Australia.

RAF 1133860 Sgt Maurice Victor Aungier, (2nd Pilot)
Son of Leonard and Mary Aungier, of Preston, Lancashire.

RCAF R/93155 WO Class 1 Andrew Aikman, (Navigator)
Son of Andrew Aikman of 26 Fisher Street, Toronto.
He attended Western Technical School in Toronto

RAAF 422702 Flt Sgt Gordon Keith Reid, (Wireless Operator)
Son of George William and Lavina Fanny Reid, of Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia.

RAAF 410909 Flt Sgt Louis James Muschialli (SE/Operator)
Son of Louis Dominic and Lillian Irene Muschialli, of Red Hill South, Victoria, Australia.

RAAF 415777 Flt Sgt Reginald Thomas Arthur Freeman, (Rear
Gunner)
Son of Thomas Alexander Winisfred Freeman and Mary Freeman, of Cottesloe, Western Australia.

 

Hi Geoff,

WO1 Aikman was the son of Andrew Aikman of 26 Fisher Street, Toronto.

He attended Western Technical School in Toronto




Regards,

Dave

 

Hi Geoff,

Son of Albert Martin Yates and Maud Yates, of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Regards,

Dave

 

Son of Robert and Edith Paul, of Norwich.

 

http://www.belton.me.uk/Pages/Galleries_Pages/Beltongallery/belton_gallery_page_3.htm

Regards,

Dave

 

Thanks Dave,

I have missed not being able to fill in these NOK gaps.

Cheers

Geoff

 

25/12/1942 - Royal Air Force Ferry Command RCAF - Ottawa Memorial - Ontario - Canada

RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS IN WORLD WAR 2 AND MISSING WITH NO KNOWN GRAVE.

405721 Sergeant CRAVEN, George Edward James

Source: NAA : A705, 166/8/13

Aircraft Type: Consolidated 28 Catalina Ib (PBY-5B)
Serial number: FP 266
Radio call sign:
Unit: Royal Air Force Ferry Command RCAF

Summary:
Catalina FP 266 of RAF Ferry Command on a delivery flight from Canada to the UK was reported missing after it’s last contact with base at 0400 hours GMT on 25 December 1942. No passengers were carried on the aircraft which did not reach its destination.

Crew:
RAFFC Captain Pierce, Benson Hutches Civilian, (Pilot)
RAF 1318417 Sgt Harding, R (1st Officer)
RCAF R/113156 Sgt Bevan, Douglas Oliver (Navigator)
RAFFC Mr Auld, James Hamilton Civilian (Radio Operator)
RAAF 405721 Sgt Craven George Edward James (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
RAF 572339 Sgt Thompson, Reginald Edwin (Flight Engineer)

In 1949 it was recorded that the missing crew had lost their lives at sea.

RAFFC Captain Pierce, Benson Hutches Civilian, (Pilot)
Aged 32, NO NOK DETAILS LISTED

RAF 1318417 Sgt Harding, Roy (1st Officer)
Aged 20, Son of William and Maud Selina Harding, of Wandsworth Common, London, England.

RCAF R/113156 Sgt Bevan, Douglas Oliver (Navigator)
Aged 29, Son of the Revd. Harry Bevan and Helen Bevan; husband of Marie K. Bevan, of Calgary, Alberta.

RAFFC Mr Auld, James Hamilton Civilian (Radio Operator)
Aged 31, Born York, Ontario NO NOK DETAILS LISTED

RAAF 405721 Sgt Craven, George Edward James (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Aged 21, Son of Fulwar and Elizabeth Abigail Craven, of Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia.

RAF 572339 Sgt Thompson, Reginald Edwin (Flight Engineer)
Aged 21, Son of Frederick John and Dorothy Thompson, of Bourneville, Birmingham, England.

 

31/12/1944 - 218Sq RAF - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.

Number of this RAAF Australian on my database is 7753/11440

Sadly, on New Years Eve 1944, all but one of this crew failed to see 1945.
Source :
AWM 237 (65 NAA : A705 166/38/850 Digitised:
Micro Film No 463 OAFH
Commonwealth War Graves records
W R Chorley: RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War: Page 525, Volume 1944.
Aircraft Type: Lancaster
Serial number: NF 926
Radio call sign: HA – K
Unit: ATTD 218 SQN RAF
Summary:
Lancaster NF926 took off from RAF Chedburgh at 1115 hours on the 31st December 1944, detailed to bomb Vohwinkel. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it failed to return to base.
Crew:
RAF 175154 FO Woodrow, Roy William Captain (Pilot) +
RAF 47598 Flt Lt George Neville Chandler, (Pilot) +
RAF 1591938 Sgt Derek Morris, (Flight Engineer) +
RAF 1568847 Sgt William Neil Watson, (Navigator) +
RAF 1399446 Flt Sgt Cyril Henry Robert James, (Air Bomber) +
RAAF 428566 Flt Sgt John Leslie Stagg, (Wireless Air Gunner) +
RAF 1595839 Sgt Joseph Carver, (Mid Upper Gunner) +
RAF Sgt V Melbourne, (Rear Gunner) POW

The aircraft crashed on 31st December 1944, near Solingen, Germany. Seven of the crew were killed and Sgt Melbourne was a POW.
Those killed are buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Locality Kleve, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. The Cemetery is 5kms south west of Kleve.


RAF 175154 FO Woodrow, Roy William Captain (Pilot) +
Aged 23, Son of William Thomas Woodrow and Mary Ellen Caroline Woodrow, of Southville, Bristol.

RAF 47598 Flt Lt George Neville Chandler, (Pilot) +
Aged 25, Son of Charles Henry and Beatrice Maud Chandler; husband of Christine Chandler.

RAF 1591938 Sgt Derek Morris, (Flight Engineer) +
Aged 19, Son of Harry and Annie Elizabeth Morris; husband of Nancy May Morris, of Newport, Monmouthshire.

RAF 1568847 Sgt William Neil Watson, (Navigator) +
Aged 22, Son of Andrew Neil and Mary Watson, of Dundonald, Ayrshire.

RAF 1399446 Flt Sgt Cyril Henry Robert James, (Air Bomber) +
Aged 20, Son of Maurice Walter and Mary Ann James, of Catford, London.

RAAF 428566 Flt Sgt John Leslie Stagg, (Wireless Air Gunner) +
Aged 21, Son of Thomas Henry and Lillian May Stagg; husband of Thelma Ellen Stagg, of Chilwell, Victoria, Australia.

RAF 1595839 Sgt Joseph Carver, (Mid Upper Gunner) +
Aged 34, Son of William and Mary Arm Carver, of Newcastle-on-Tyne; husband of Lily Carver, of Benwell, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

RAF Sgt V Melbourne, (Rear Gunner) POW
(4 photos)

 

18/09/1945 - 38sq RAAF - Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery - Papua New Guinea

Sister Craig was a nurse with 2 Medical Evacuation and Transport Unit RAAF



Sadly, on the 18th September 1945, after six years of war for Australia and just one month after the Japanese surrender a Dakota C-47 Aircraft of 38 Squadron RAAF left New Guinea for Australia with a nurse, Sister Marie Eileen Craig (MiD). 6 RAAF crew and three RAAF passengers, returning 18 sick Army patients to Australia when it crashed with the loss of all on board.


From: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/qld150.htm

At 6.00am on 18 September 1945, RAAF C-47 Dakota, A65-61, VH-CUT, of 38 Squadron RAAF, took off from Wama Airfield on Moratai in New Guinea. It arrived at Mokmer airfield on Biak Island at 10.30am. The Dakota then took off in clear weather at 11.15am enroute to Townsville via Horn Island. Normal procedure for aircraft departing from Biak was to radio in 15 minutes after take-off and then again when they had reached their cruising height. A65-61 did not make its first 15 minutes radio call and totally disappeared along with its 28 occupants. No trace was found during searches in New Guinea. It was thought that it would not have reached the Australian mainland.

"Penny Stibbard told me that her uncle, Noel Royce Stibbard, was on this flight when it disappeared in Papua New Guinea. Penny told me that the aircraft wreckage was found in 1968".

On 16 October 1968, an American Missionary, Jerry Reeder, was flying his aircraft across the Nassau Range in West Irian at 14,500 feet when he saw a flash of light below him. He flew down lower to discover the wreckage of a large silvery aircraft on the side of Mount Carstens. In mid 1970, Jerry Reeder returned with two American timbermen from the D.E. Lowe Corporation in a Bell Ranger helicopter and landed near the wreckage.

They were able to determine that it was a WW2 Dakota military aircraft. The camouflage had faded from the metal fuselage but they were able to find the letters "CUT" in faint yellow letters on the tail of the wrecked aircraft. They found many scattered human bones and a half-burnt women's shoe near the wreckage.
The Dakota had hit the side of the valley with one of its wingtips which then slewed the aircraft into the 3,000 feet high mountain side. It then fell to the valley below and caught fire. Although in a valley, it was located at a spot 13,500 feet above sea level.

28 military personnel were killed in this crash:-

38 Squadron RAAF

AIRCRAFT CREW

RAAF 411069 Warrant Officer Arthur Jack Hunter +
RAAF 414566 Warrant Officer Albert Clifford Hughes +
RAAF 405949 Warrant Officer Eric Wilkinson +
RAAF 27141 Flight Sergeant Kenneth Robert Wiles +
RAAF 6188 Flight Sergeant Allan George Sawrey +
RAAF 47042 Sergeant Francis Leonard Henry Blackmore +
RAAFNS 501399 Sister Marie Eileen Craig +
====================================================================
AIRCRAFT CREW

RAAF 411069 Warrant Officer Arthur Jack Hunter
Aged 25, Son of Mr and Mrs A Hunter, of Lambton, New South Wales.

RAAF 414566 Warrant Officer Albert Clifford Hughes
Aged 24, Son of Florence Kate Hughes; husband of Joyce Mona May Hughes, of Warialda, New South Wales.

RAAF 405949 Warrant Officer Eric Wilkinson
Aged 32, Son of James Henry and Susan Wilkinson; husband of Margaret Sophia Wilkinson of Silkstone, Queensland.

RAAF 27141 Flight Sergeant Kenneth Robert Wiles
Aged 23, Son of Leslie Horace and Florence Evelyn Wiles; husband of Margaret Wiles of North Footscray, Victoria.

RAAF 6188 Flight Sergeant Allan George Sawrey
Aged 33, Son of George David and Jane Sawrey; husband of Phyllis Sawrey of Concord, New South Wales.

RAAF 47042 Sergeant Francis Leonard Henry Blackmore
Aged 28, Son of Charles Henry and Amy Blackmore; husband of Isabel Jean Blackmore, of Welland, South Australia.

RAAFNS 501399 Sister Marie Eileen Craig
Aged 31, Daughter of Alexander and Jessie Craig, of Drummoyne, New South Wales.

=============================================================================
RAAF PASSENGERS

RAAF 421110 Flying Officer Noel Royce Stibbard
Aged 24, Son of Ronald and Edith Stibbard; husband of Joan Stibbard of Wollongong, New South Wales.

RAAF 412376 Warrant Officer Allan Campbell
Aged 26, Son of Robert and Winifred Campbell of Taree, New South Wales

RAAF 170241 Leading Aircraftsman William Royce Dunderdale
Aged 19, Son of William Charles and Victoria Dunderdale, of Oxley, Queensland.
===================================================================
ARMY PASSENGERS

Private Leonard Thomas Oakley (2/31 Australian Infantry Battalion)
Aged 21, TX16004 Son of Edward Thomas Oakley and Clara Dover Oakley of Burnie, Tasmania.

Private SX25862 Laurie Anthony Coombe (2/4 Pioneer Australian Infantry Battalion)
Aged 35, Son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Lean Coombe; husband of Grace Hope Coombe, of Camden, South Australia.

Private QX6044 Ian Scott McDowall (Australian Army Ordnance Corps 1 Parachute Maint. Platoon)
Aged 23, Son of Andrew Roderick and Marjorie Campbell McDowall of Brisbane, Queensland.

Trooper QX28187 George Phillip Duffy (2/5 Australian Commando Squadron)
Aged 22, Son of Francis Edric and Isabel Mary Duffy, of Clayfield, Queensland.

Private QX54584 John McAlorum (2/23 Australian Infantry Battalion)
Aged 21, Son of James P. and Mary Jane McAlorum of Red Hill, Queensland.

Trooper QX60160 Ronald Leslie Mathieson (2/6 Australian Commando Squadron)
Aged 20, Son of William Norman and Ethel Maud Mathieson of Maryborough, Queensland.

Private QX 60848 Arthur Trevor Jorgenson (2/31 Australian Infantry Battalion)
Aged 20, Son of Arthur Peter and Wilhelmina Joregensen, of Toowoomba, Queensland.

Private NX/08177 Keith John Bowden (2/12 Australian Infantry Battalion)
Aged 22, Son of Walter Garner and Clara Myrtle Bowden, of Sans Souci, New South Wales.

Trooper NX114117 (N228055) Frederick Joseph Ireland (2/5 Australian Commando Squadron)
Aged 23, Son of Montague Leo and Jessie May Ireland, of Maroubra Junction, New South Wales.

Private NX126131 James Ivan Tindall (2/16 Australian Infantry Battalion)
Aged 32, Husband of Mary Tindall of Narooma, New South Wales.

Corporal NX31956 George John Welch (Australian Army Service Corps 2/102 Gen. Transport Coy)
Aged 34, Son of David and Florence Welch of Queanbeyan, Australian Capital Territory

Private NX78164 Mervyn John Ford (2/31 Australian Infantry Battalion)
Aged 24, Son of John David and Linda Maud Ford, of Parramatta, New South Wales.

Lance Sergeant NX88349 Arthur John Hyde (30 Works Coy Australian Army Labour Service)
Aged 38, Son of William Frances and Mary Anne Hyde; husband of Nellie Hyde, of Croydon, New South Wales.

Private NX92958 Donald William Smith (2/31 Australian Infantry Battalion)
Aged 23, Son of James and Vera Smith of Milton, New South Wales.

Private NX203686 Ian Thomas Lawler Ray (2/31 Australian Infantry Battalion)
Aged 19, Son of Stanley James Lawler Ray and Dulcie Isobel McEwen Ray, of Canberra.

Sapper NX 204635 James Francis MacDougall (5 Mech Eqpt Coy Royal Australian Engineers)
Aged 24, Son of James Kenneth and Olive Wilks MacDougall of Mayfield, New South Wales.

Sapper NX128663 John Matthews (9 Workshop and Park Coy Royal Australian Engineers)
Aged 22, Son of Brier Scotts Matthews and Ida Florrie Matthews of Orange, New South Wales.

Gunner TX8234 Trevor Eiszelle (2/8 Field Regt Royal Australian Artillery)
Aged 24, Son of Ernest Albert and Minnie Maud Eiszele; husband of Phyllis Nancy Eiszele, Sandy Bay, Tasmania.

The safe route from Biak to Horn Island was to fly across Geelvink Bay and then across the narrow Vegelkop neck of land and down the west coast of New Guinea to Horn Island. It would appear that Dakota A65-61 flew the almost direct route to Horn Island across the main mountain range, where many of the peaks were above 16,000 feet, some covered in snow. It was located about 120 miles east of the Geelvink-Volgelkop Neck route. It is believed that the aircraft was flying north at the time of impact suggesting that it may have encountered clouds while flying in the high valley, and then decided to turn around to fly back out of the valley.
On 3 December 1970, the Australian military implemented Operation "Tropic Snow" to recover the remains of those killed in this tragic crash. Support aircraft that flew into Biak were three Hercules C-130's, two Iroquois, a Caribou and an Army Pilatus Porter.

After some delays due to bad weather, a RAAF Iroquois winched down two personnel to the crash site. They were winched out about 90 minutes later with the remains of the victims of this crash. The remains were taken to Port Moresby for identification.

The remains were buried in the Bomana Port Moresby War Cemetery with full military honours on 26 January 1971. The Pacific Island Regiment together with its Pipes and Drums took part in the moving ceremony, attended by service representatives and families of the deceased.

Last post ceremony for Sister Marie Eileen Craig MiD RAAFNS conducted at the Australian War Memorial at one of their daily remembrance ceremonies to honour the fallen.

http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/PAFU2013%2F013.01/






ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I'd like to thank Penny Stibbard for her assistance with this home page.

REFERENCE BOOK
"Diary of WWII - North Queensland"
Complied by Peter Nielsen

"Aircraft of the RAAF 1921- 71"
By Geoffrey Pentland & Peter Malone

"Last Flight of Dakota A65-61"
by Bruce McMaugh, of 2/31 battalion

 

(Intended to post thison the 2nd)
2nd February 1944 - 1sq RAAF - Menangle, New South Wales, Australia - Buried Narrandera War Cemetery & Sydney Memorial

Aircraft information with thanks to: http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a9f.htm

A9-505 Served with 1 Sqn RAAF. Midair collision 02/02/44, with A9-507 Menangle NSW.

Crew:

FLTSGT George Livingstone Forbes Wood 415097 (pilot), +
FLTSGT Michael O'Malley 426903 (observer), +
FLTSGT Stanley Murray Johnston (WAG), +
FLTSGT Jack Stace Newnham 423876 (WAG) +
LAC John Lovell Parer Nugent 130211 instrument repairer (pax) killed. +

A9-507 Served with 1 Sqn. Midair collision 02/02/44 with A9-505 Menangle NSW.

Crew:

FLTSGT Percival Allen 415957 (pilot), +
FLGOFF Cedric Ivan Barber 415959 (observer), +
FLGOFF Donald Glen Broad 437112 (WAG), +
FLTSGT George Russell McCausland 419053 (WAG) +
LAC Richard Keith Shelton 88452 photographer (pax) killed. +

From: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/nsw180.htm

At 1309 hours E.A.S.T. on 2 February 1944, Beaufort A9-505 collided with Beaufort A9-507 about thirty miles north of Jerilderie in southern New South Wales resulting in the death of 10 men as follows:-

Aircraft 1

Beaufort A9-505 of 1 Squadron RAAF, Menangle

Flight Sergeant George Livingstone Forbes Wood (415097) – Pilot
Son of George and Margaret Wood, of Mount Lawley, Western Australia.

Flight Sergeant Michael O'Malley (426903)
Son of Francis Thomas O'Malley and Millicent O'Malley, of Ingham, Queensland. A.F.I.A.

Flight Sergeant Jack Stace Newnham (423876)
Son of William Ashby Newnham and Clarissa Mabel Newnham, of Killara; foster-son of K. G. Miller, of Killara.

Flight Sergeant Stanley Murray Johnston (429967)
Son of John Stanley Johnston and Edith Alice Johnston, of Challa Gardens, South Australia.

LAC John Lovell Parer Nugent 130211 instrument repairer (pax)
Son of John E. and Emily Violette Nugent.

Aircraft 2

Beaufort A9-507 of 1 Squadron RAAF, Menangle

Flight Sergeant Percival Allen (415957) – Pilot
Son of William Henry and Lilian Allen, of Perth, Western Australia.

Flying Officer Cedric Ivan Barber (415959)
Son of Stanley Hedley Barber and Edith May Barber; husband of Ethel Mary Barber, of Northam, Western Australia.

Flight Sergeant George Russell McCausland (419053)
Son of George and Alma Pearl McCausland, of North Fitzroy, Victoria.

Flying Officer Donald Glen Broad (437112)
Son of Irene Myrtle Broad, of Robertstown, South Australia.

LAC Richard Keith Shelton 88452 photographer (pax)
Son of Avenel Hope Shelton and Elizabeth Shelton; husband of Jean Constance Shelton, of Launceston.



The "Preliminary Report (External) of Flying Accident or Forced Landing" indicated the following under the entry "Nature of Accident:- Non-operational collision in air during cross country formation exercise.
The area of the crash is now what is known as the Coleambally farming district. Nine of the ten crew members are buried in the military section of the Narrandera Cemetery, after funerals and a public parade through Narrandera on the 4 February 1944.

Coroner's Inquiry

You may like to read this detail that is copied as/is from a newspaper of the day and is pasted here without editing.



Into Cause of Deaths of Nine Airmen in February Last (One body was not found and is listed on the Sydney Memorial.

On Thursday last the Coroner (Mr. J. S. Dickson) held an inquest into the cause of the deaths of Cedric Ivan Barber, Donald Glen Broad, George Russell McCauseland, Jack Stace New ham, Stanley Murray Johnson, Per cival Allen, Michael O'Malley, George Livingstone Forbes Wood, and Richard Keith Shelton, who met their deaths in an aeroplane accident on February 2. Dr. John Chamberlain stated that he was stationed at the Deniliquin Flying School. At approximately 400 hours on 2nd February, while acting as medical officer at No. 8 E.F.T.S., Narrandera, he was notified that there had been an aircraft accident in the Jerilderie district. He proceeded there in the ambulance and reached there at 1600 hours. Squadron Leader Sang ster, who had arrived on the scene of the accident before him, having gone from Deniliquin, where he was at that time stationed, had removed the re- mains of the bodies from the wreck age of the two aircraft. The bodies were transported to the Narrandera Hospital morgue, where witness made an examination. In his opinion there were the remains of at least eight bodies, and probably more. An ex tensive search of the area revealed a number of items that might assist in identification. Five identification discs bearing the names of D. J. Mc Causeland, J. Newham, F. N. John ston, Shelton, Broad, D. J. There was also an identity card bearing the name Wood. (The numbers of deceased were given in the discs).

There was a sextant in a wooden case bearing the name McNicol, and a water bottle with a name Allen, and number. Wit ness understood that the sextant bearing the name McNicol was bor rowed from the owner, whose name appeared on the case, and that Mc Nicol was afterwards proved to be not among those who were killed in the accident. Witness had no record of the number of men in the air craft which collided. Only the squad ron records could provide that. He believed that the squadron to which the planes belonged left for a north ern operations area. He believed that all the records would go with the squadron.

In reply to a question as to whether witness had any knowledge as to whether L.A.C. Nugent was amongst those killed in the crash, witness said that he had not, but headquarters marked him 'missing, believed killed,' and they would have good reason for doing so, though they found no identity disc or other trace in the wreckage that would establish the fact of his being in one of the planes concerned. An examination of the wreckage indicated that they both caught fire, and that made identifi cation extremely difficult. Police Sergeant Rosser, stationed at Jerilderie, stated that about 3 p.m. on 2nd February last he received a tele- phone message to organise the bush fire brigade and to go to a bush fire which had been started by a plane about 35 miles north of Jerilderie. About 4.30 p.m. he arrived where the grass fire was in progress on 'Elaroo' station. He there saw the remains of two aircraft. The aircraft appeared to have crashed from a good height. In each case the engines of the planes were driven into the ground to a depth of about three feet. The engines and other portions of the planes were burning fiercely.

There were small portions of the planes scattered about the ground for a distance of about 350 yards round each plane. Small portions of flesh were also scattered among the pieces of the aircraft. Witness saw portion of two hands and two feet picked up by Dr. Sangster, C.M.O., of Deniliquin R.A.A.F. sta tion, who had arrived there by plane. After the fires had burned down in the wrecked planes witness assisted to turn over the portion of a broken wing and found portion of a human body under the wing. The planes had crashed about 400 yards from each other. Both had crashed nose down and appeared to have caught alight immediately on striking the ground. Small portions of the planes started fires 100 yards away from the main portion of the wreckage. Dr. Sang ster had gathered up portions of the bodies of the crews and handed them over to Dr. Chamberlain, who had ar rived from Narandera by road, and he conveyed the remains to Narandera. Witness interviewed Mrs. Raymond Taylor, wife cf the owner of the pro jerty on which the crash occurred, and she said that a number of planes had passed over the homestead and they had made such a noise that she went out to see them. In her own words she said, 'There seemed to be about 12 or fourteen planes, and they were flying in threes together, with two behind. They were up very high. I think about 5,000 feet, and while I was looking the last two seemed to come together sideways and either dust or smoke seemed to fly out of one and they both seemed to be falling. The timber in front of the house obstructed my view, but I could hear the engines roaring and then heard a crash and saw smoke rising in the direction from where the planes had dropped. I feel sure that the planes hit one another in the air because one seemed to slip side ways for quite a long distance till it struck the other plane. Both planes appeared to glide towards the earth after the collision.

The portions of the bodies witness saw were not recognisable, and he was at that time unable to ascertain where the planes came from or where they were going. He had inquiries made later at Camden by the Camden police, who were informed by R.A.A.F personnel at Menangle that the two aircraft that crashed belonged to a group that had been transferred to a northern station, taking with them all records and personnel, and that there was no information available there as to the names or numbers of the crew which manned the crashed planes, and referred any other inquiries to Squad ron Leader Bavin, of the Area Law Office, Sydney.
Enquiries were made at that office and it was there stated that no records of the crews or craft were available at that office and stated that ' when R.A.A.F. groups were transferred their records went with them, and that there was no officer at Menangle who could give evidence at an inquiry, or who could give evi dence of any of the squadrons' depar ture or return. It was stated that the squadron was engaged in training exercises at the time of the accident. Enquiries were then made at R.A.A.F. Records Department, Prahran, Vic toria. At that office a report on a form was made to report to the Cor oner. The names of the crew were Cedric Ivan Barber, Donald Glen Broad, George Russell McCauseland, Jack Stace Newham, Stanley Murray Allen, George Livingstone Forbes Wood, Richard Keith Shelton. Those were stated to have been the members of the crew who should have been in the planes that were concerned in the crash. Of the portions of the bodies recovered it would be impossible to identify any of them.

Coroner's Finding The Coroner found that the de ceased airmen were accidentally killed when two aircraft which they were flying accidentally collided whilst en gaged in training exercises. The Coroner added the following rider: 'This court extends its sincere sympathy to the relatives of the deceased members of the aircraft crews who lost their lives in such tragic circumstances as here related to-day. It was a most unfortunate accident which robbed the relatives of their sons, brothers, and husbands, and robbed the nation of some of the finest flower of her manhood, especially at this time of trial, when men of their calibre and ability, whose training had fitted them for special service to the nation, and sorely needed. It is with profound regret that I note the reluctance cf the R.A.A.F. records and legal offices to assist with the re quisite information to conduct this in quiry in a manner which would be of assistance in satisfying the Crown, the relatives and the public that the accident was one which could not have been avoided and that nothing could I be done to avoid a repetition of such an accident. No doubt the Air Board has already hold an inquiry into the cause of the accident, which undoubtedly is very necessary from a service point of view. The Air Board is, how ever, a comparatively recent creation compared with the office of Coroner. The holder of the office of Coroner is under his oath of office compelled to exercise every endeavour to elicit all available facts regarding accidents which come within his jurisdiction and the successive holders of this office have been engaged in this work for several hundred years. No one could take exception to the R.A.A.F. headquarters withholding information which might in any way impair the security of the nation. In the present instance, however, the aircraft were on a training flight far removed from any theatre of war, and I feel that the R.A.A.F. could have assisted this inquiry had they supplied the information sought with a better grace than they have evinced in this case.

I wish to make it clear, however, that the R.A.A.F. witness. Dr. John Chamberlain, gave his evidence willingly and in a manner which left nothing to be desired.

 

9th February 1945 – 61Sq RAF – Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery, Poland

RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR
AMONG RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT IN
ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS

Source: AWM 237 (65)
NAA : A705, 166/26/791
Commonwealth War Graves records
W R Chorley : RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Page 72, Volume 1945.
Aircraft Type: Lancaster
Serial number: ME 443
Radio call sign: QR – N
Unit: ATTD 61 SQN RAF

Summary:

Lancaster ME443 took off from RAF Skellingthorpe at 1659 hours on the night of 8/9th February 1945, detailed to bomb oil refineries at Politz, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it failed to return to base.

Crew :

RAAF 437172 FO Tasker, Brian Stanley Captain (Pilot) +
RAF Sgt T McKnight, (Flight Engineer) POW
RAF FO Walker, E (Navigator) POW
RAF Flt Sgt W F R Boobyer, (Air Bomber) POW
RAAF 40520 Flt Sgt Raymond Murdoch McKenzie, (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) +
RAF 1898574 Sgt Stanley William Herring, (Mid Upper Gunner) +
RAF 1852213 Sgt Vernon Albert Edwards (Rear Gunner) +

The aircraft crashed at Politz near Stettin, Germany. Four of the crew were killed and FO Walker, Sgt McKnight and Flt Sgt Boobyer were POW’s.

Those killed are buried in the Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery, Poland. The city of Poznan is located in the west of Poland.
PO Walker later reported “ The aircraft was hit over the target. I saw McKenzie leave his seat and clip on his chute and think he must have attempted to get the Mid Upper or Rear Gunner out but left it too late. The aircraft was on fire and might have gone into the Baltic Sea. Boobyer and McKnight baled out before me McNight was not injured in the attack and he left by the rear exit. He saw Tasker preparing to bale out.”

View attachment 133191 View attachment 133192 View attachment 133193 View attachment 133195

RAAF 437172 FO Tasker, Brian Stanley Captain (Pilot) +
Aged 20, Son of Reginald Alexander and Elsie Olive Tasker, of Torrensville, South Australia.

RAAF 40520 Flt Sgt Raymond Murdoch McKenzie, (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) +
Aged 28, Son of Hugh Murdoch McKenzie and Stella Grace McKenzie, of Cammeray, New South Wales, Australia.

RAF Sgt Stanley William Herring, (Mid Upper Gunner) +
No NOK DETAILS

RAF Sgt Vernon Albert Edwards (Rear Gunner) +
Aged 19, Son of Bertie and Doris Kathleen Edwards, of Cross-in-Hand, Sussex.