LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Robert Watson BRADFORD
Service No: 409286
Born: 11 July 1921, Location Unavailable
Enlisted in the RAAF: 15 August 1941 (at Melbourne VIC)
Unit: No. 1 Service Flying Training School, RAAF Station Point Cook VIC
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Service Flying Training School Oxford aircraft AS 694), Point Cook, 7 April 1942, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Springvale Necropolis, Melbourne VIC
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Richard Frank and Marion May Bradford
Roll of Honour: Shepparton VIC
Remembered: Panel 115, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Airspeed Oxford AS 694 was involved in a mid-air collision during formation flying practice and crashed 2 kms south west of Point Cook at 1515 hours on 7 April 1942. The crew members who were all killed were:
Leading Aircraftman Milton Desmond Boland (26473) (Trainee Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman Robert Watson Bradford (409286) (Trainee Pilot)
Flying Officer Leslie Vyvyan Newall (407311) (Pilot)
The other aircraft is not identified and No. 1 SFTS did not suffer any further casualties on 7 April 1942.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9345, 239