LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant John Tasman ANDREW
Service No: 418241
Born: Bendigo VIC, 8 May 1910
Enlisted in the RAAF: 15 may 1942
Unit: No. 455 Squadron, RAF Station Langham
Died: Air Operations: (No. 455 Squadron Beaufighter aircraft NE760), off the English Coast, 10 July 1944, Aged 34 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Tasman Ernest and Elsie Elizabeth Andrew; husband of Beryl Letitia Andrew, of Seaforth, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Bendigo VIC
Remembered: Panel 259, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 106, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Beaufighter NE760 took off from Langham at 1326 hours on 10 July 1944 to carry out a special reconnaissance off the Danish coast. Two aircraft from the Squadron took part in the mission and of these NE760 failed to return. At 1335 hours three miles from Sheringham, bearing 010 degrees true, NE760 which was forming on the port quarter of ‘L’ was seen by the navigator of ‘L’ to make a turn to starboard, rapidly losing height as though making an attempt to return to base. ‘L’ followed NE760 around to ascertain the cause of this unexpected procedure. When aircraft NE760 was at 100 feet the starboard wing dropped and the aircraft dived into the sea and sank immediately. A light naval craft was in the vicinity and proceeded to the spot to investigate, and ‘L’ circled for 15 minutes. No survivors were seen only wreckage and an upturned dinghy. ‘L’ sent out a VHF message of the crash and returned to base.
The crew members of NE760 were:
Flight Sergeant John Tasman Andrew (418241) (Navigator Wireless)
Flight Sergeant Maxwell Mason Roberts (42457) (Pilot)
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 A9301, 418241
Bibliography:
Gordon, I. (Ian) Strike and Strike Again: 455 Squadron 1944-5, Banner Books Belconnen ACT 2616, 1995
Lawson, John Horwood Wightman (251634) The Story of No. 455 Squadron (RAAF), Wilke and Company, Melbourne VIC, 1951