LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Percy Russell LAZARUS
Service No: 32408
Born: Paddington NSW, 15 November 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 15 July 1940
Unit: No. 13 Squadron, Hughes NT
Died: Injuries from Aircraft Accident (No. 13 Squadron Hudson aircraft A16-212 on 27 February 1943), Hughes NT, 28 February 1943, Aged 27 Years
Buried: Adelaide River War Cemetery NT
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edward and Ethel Lazarus
Roll of Honour: Ashfield NSW
Remembered: Panel 100, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1945 hours on 27 February 1943, Hudson A16-212 crashed while making a practice approach to Hughes airfield in conditions of poor visibility and low cloud. On board the aircraft were:
Leading Aircraftman Roy Gordon Bradley (50651) (Flight Mechanic)
Sergeant Keith Danks Brown (405822) (Pilot) Injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 1 June 1945
Leading Aircraftman Kelvin Eric George Edwards (61066) (Flight Rigger) Injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 19 April 1945
Corporal Charles Conroy Jennings (18872) (Instrument Maker)
Leading Aircraftman Percy Russell Lazarus (32408) (Steward)
Sergeant William Robert Cochrane Robertson (401164) (Observer)
It is possible that the same storm contributed to the crash of No. 452 Squadron Spitfire A58-69 (Flying Officer William Hendrie Ford (401429) (Pilot)) enroute to Wyndham WA on 27 February 1943.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 137
Bibliography:
Grantham, S.R. (Sidney Richard) (6590) The 13 Squadron Story, S.R. Grantham, Dee Why NSW 2099, 1991