LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Reginald Connell ALLAN
Service No: 401755
Born: Melbourne VIC, 19 February 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 29 March 1941
Unit: No. 41 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 41 Squadron Spitfire aircraft AD356), France, 20 July 1942, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Ste Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George and Alma Allan, of Northcote, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Northcote VIC
Remembered: Panel 118, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 20 July 1942 Spitfire AD356 was flying in formation with other aircraft from the Squadron carrying out a Rhubarb mission along the French coast at a height of 50 to 100 feet when a large transport was observed on the coast road. The formation dived to attack at the conclusion of which AD356 was seen to make a crash landing in a cornfield killing Sergeant Allan.
Pilot Officer Thomas Adams Hulme Slack (112428) (RAFVR) of White Section later filed this report: “White 1 attacked a large transport on the coast road. White 2 was flying 300 yards behind on the starboard side and I was White 3, 300 yards behind White 2 on the port side of White 1. White 4 (flown by Sergeant Allan) should have been on my port and behind me. When White 1 and White 2 had finished their attacks and broken away, I came in very low and opened fire. On reaching 150 yards or closer to the target, I noticed a plane slightly in front and to the starboard side also firing. This turned out to be White 4 who was very low indeed. I immediately ceased firing and noticed the wing of this aircraft break off about half way between the wing tip and the wing root, and then did a half orbit and saw the aircraft hit a corn field to the port of the road. It was very badly damaged and the engine began to give off flames. At first I imagined it was one of Razzle Blue section flying to our starboard about 100 yards away, but as they were not attacking on our road I naturally thought I was safe to come in low as the two front aircraft had broken off the attack.”
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, 163/87/236