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| RAAF No. 2 Squadron  RAAF August 13, 1940  Daniel Leahy 2005 |
Pilot F/Lt Robert Edward Hitchcock, 115 (KIA, BR) East St. Kilda, VIC Navigator P/O Richard Frederick Wiesener, 607 (KIA, BR) Strathfield, NSW Crew Cpl John Frederick Palmer, 2130 (KIA, BR) Glen Iris, VIC Crew AC1 Charles Joseph Crosdale, 6673 (KIA, BR) West Cessnock, NSW Passenger James Valentine Fairbairn, Air Minister (KIA, BR) Passenger Richard Edwyn Elford, Secretary to the Air Minister (KIA, BR) Passenger Geoffrey Austin Street, Army Minister (KIA, BR) Passenger Sir Henry Somer Gullett, VP of Executive Council (KIA, BR) Passenger Lt Gen Sir Cyril Brudenell Bingham White, Chief General Staff (KIA, BR) Woodnaggerak, VIC Passenger Lt Col Francis Thornthwaite, V159753 Snr Army Officer (KIA, BR) Derrinallum, VIC Crashed August 13, 1940 at 10:50am Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 1951. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia. Wartime History On June 20, 1940 assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Hudson A16-97. Reassembled by 1 Air Depot (1 AD). On August 12, 1940 assigned to 2 Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On August 13, 1940 took off with passengers aboard including Government officials and VIPs. On the approach to t RAAF Base at Canberra, this Hudson spun and crashed two miles east of the airfield, killing everyone aboard and burning. On August 17, 1940 this Hudson was officially written off. Wreckage Today, nothing remain at the crash site. Daniel Leahy adds: "I've visited the site about 3 times and have found nothing of the aircraft. I have however found a ditch about the same shape and size as that in the crash photo just behind the memorial - so chances are the same place." Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the crash. After the recovery of remains, the remains of the crew and passengers were recovered and buried in Australia. The civilian dead: Fairbairn, Elford, Street and Gullett are commemorated at St. George's Chapel in Westminster Abbey, London, England. Afterwards, Canberra Airport (RAAF Base at Canberra) was renamed "Fairbairn Airfield" in honor of James V. Fairbairn. A stone memorial is located at the crash site. Wiesener is buried at Rookwood Crematorium Sydney at memorial wall, niche 115PD. White is buried at Buangor Public Cemetery at C of E section grave 40. Thornthwaite is buried at Lismore Civil Cemetery at section A, grave 10. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - A-28-LO Hudson ADF Serials - Hudson A16-97 CWGC - Robert Edward Hitchcock CWGC - Richard Frederick Wiesener CWGC - John Frederick Palmer CWGC - Charles Joseph Crosdale CWGC - James Valentine Fairbairn CWGC - Richard Edwyn Elford CWGC - Geoffrey Austin Street CWGC - Sir Henry Somer Gullett CWGC - Sir Cyril Brudenell Bingham White CWGC - Francis Thornthwaite Ten Journeys to Cameron’s Farm An Australian Tragedy by Cameron Hazlehurst [PDF] details the ten crew and passengers and crash Thanks to Daniel Leahy for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated June 13, 2024 |
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