LEST WE FORGET
Aircraft Accident (No. 459 Squadron Hudson aircraft FH257), near Landing Ground Z, 25 August 1942
On a practice bombing and gunnery flight on 25 August 1942, Hudson FH257 stalled while turning west of the airfield and crashed, killing all five crew members. The three Canadians were under training. The crew members were:
Flight Sergeant William Leonard Farrand (1021726) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant Ernest William Fuidge (1380219) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant John Edward Michael Lamb (R/56424) (RCAF) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Joseph Kenneth Norman MacMillan (R/65413) (RCAF) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant James Desmond Purcell (R/69899) (RCAF) (Wireless Air Gunner)
References:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9816, 145 (No. 459 Squadron Unit History)
Bibliography:
Kane-Maguire L. (Leon) Desert Scorpions: 459 Squadron RAAF 1942-1945, Australian Military History Publications Loftus NSW 2232, 2007
Vincent, D. (David) The RAAF Hudson Story Book 1, D. Vincent Highbury SA 5089, 1989