LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer James William ALCORN
Service No: 421873
Born: Casino NSW, 10 October 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 April 1942
Unit: No. 576 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Elsham Wolds
Died: Air Operations (No. 576 Squadron Lancaster aircraft JB460), North West Europe, 25 June 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Robert Elderslie Alcorn and Alma Mildred Alcorn, of Robertson, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 258, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 118, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Robertson Honour Roll, Robertson NSW
Remembered: Kangaloon Honour Roll, Robertson NSW
On the night of 24/25 June 1944 Lancaster JB460 took-off from Elsham Wolds detailed to operate against Flers Constructional Works in the Pas de Calais area. Since take off nothing further heard of the aircraft or crew and the crew are listed as missing.
The crew members of JB460 were:
Pilot Officer James William Alcorn (421873) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Reginald Kenneth Begg (419081) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant John Boyle Cowie (1308596) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant Thomas Eric Hayes (1623029) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant John Mannion (2209405) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant Alan Thompson Tait Morrell (1686362) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant Thomas Arthur Roby (1764138) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/3/238
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line