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| RAAF No. 76 Squadron  RAAF February 1942  Simmons March 28, 1943   RAAF c1943 |
Pilot S/Ldr Keith "Bluey" W. Truscott, 400213 (KIA, BR) South Yarra, VIC Crashed March 28, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Constructors Number 18770. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40E-1 Warhawk serial number 41-36249. Royal Air Force (RAF) serial number ET893. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History During August 1942 assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as P-40E Kittyhawk serial number A29-150. On September 3, 1942 assigned to No. 76 Squadron with code IP. No known nickname or nose art. On September 7, 1942 took off from Milne Bay piloted by Sgt Carroll on a mission to attack Japanese shipping off Normanby Island. On November 4, 1942 while landing, suffered a collision that damaging the starboard wing and propeller. The damaged was repaired and returned to duty on December 23, 1943. On March 13, 1943 took off piloted by F/O Eric Blair Tainton. While attempting to land at the old Potshot (Learmonth) Airfield, this aircraft hit a soft patch of soil and stood onto its nose. Mission History On March 28, 1943 took off piloted by S/Ldr Keith "Bluey" W. Truscott with a wingman on a mission to escort a Catalina. During the flight, the Kittyhawks made mock attack runs on the flying boat. Failing to notice that the Catalina was in a slow descent, Truscott misjudged its height and crashed into the Bay of Rest near Herron Head inside Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia. Truscott did not bail out and was killed in the crash. Wreckage After the crash, the aircraft was recovered from a depth of 7 fathoms and was recovered to the surface and moved ashore. Recovery of Remains Inside the cockpit, Truscott's body recovered from the cockpit still strapped into the seat. Memorials Truscott was officially declared dead the day of the mission. On April 1, 1943 Truscott was buried at Karrakatta War Cemetery with full military honors. Later, he was permanently buried at Perth War Cemetery at grave H.A.12. Later, Truscott Airfield was named in his honor. The trophy for Best and Fairest at the Melbourne Football Club is dubbed the Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy. References WW2 Nominal Roll - Keith William Truscott USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-40E-1 Warhawk 41-36249 "36249 (MSN 18770) was to have gone to RAF as ET893 but to RAAF as A29-150 Aug 1942. Crashed into sea Mar 28, 1943 near Herron Head, WA, killing the pilot." RAAF Court of Inquiry A29-150 ADF Serials - Kittyhawk A29-150 CWGC - Keith William Truscott FindAGrave - Keith Truscott (Karrakatta Cemetery) FindAGrave - Squadron Leader Keith William “Bluey” Truscott (photos, grave photo Perth War Cemetery) FindAGrave - Keith William “Bluey” Truscott (obituary The Melbourne Argus, Brighton General Cemetery) 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 December 22, 2022 |
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