LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant James Jeffery ALLEN DFC
Service No: 411723
Born: Sydney NSW, 5 April 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 25 May 1941
Unit: No. 96 Squadron (RAF)
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 16 November 1943
Died: Injuries from an Aircraft Accident (No. 96 Squadron Dakota aircraft KN468 on 13 June 1945), India, 15 June 1945, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Delhi War Cemetery, India
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James William and Irene Mary Allen; husband of Nancy Allen, of Mona Vale, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 118, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: University of Sydney World War 2 Roll of Honour, Camperdown NSW
Remembered: Knox Grammar School Old Boys’ War Memorial, Wahroonga NSW
Remembered: Killara United Church WWII Honour Roll, Killara NSW
The award of DFC to the then Pilot Officer Allen of No. 466 Squadron RAAF was promulgated as a General Citation in the London Gazette of 16 November 1943, page 5025.
On 13 June 1945 Dakota KN468 crashed about 2 miles east of Dinawa railway station near Patna India while on a daytime transport of equipment flight. Fire broke out in the aircraft during the flight and the port engine ceased to function. The crash was in position 25.27N 085.17E.
The crew members of KN468 were:
Flight Lieutenant James Jeffery Allen DFC (411723) (Navigator) Fatally injured. Died: 15 June 1945
Flying Officer Bruce Douglas Bancroft DFC GM (421635) (Pilot) Injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 8 February 1946
Leading Aircraftman Cyril Leonard Bunn (1191654) (RAFVR) (F/M/A) (Passenger) Fatally injured, Died: 14 June 1945
Pilot Officer Alfred William Culshaw (55480) (RAF) (Co-Pilot) Fatally injured, Died: 14 June 1945
Leading Aircraftman Alan Hull (901910) (RAFVR) (Flight Mechanic Engines) Fatally injured, Died: 14 June 1945
Aircraftman Class II George Hullah (2227821) (RAFVR) (Grad/Mech)
Flying Officer William John Tolliday (410793) (Wireless Operator Air)
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, 166/3/463
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line