LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Thomas Desmond BERNDT
Service No: 426773
Born: Maryborough QLD, 26 May 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 July 1942
Unit: No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School, Narromine NSW
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School Tiger Moth aircraft A17-113), near Narromine NSW, 23 December 1943, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Narromine General Cemetery, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Bemard and Mary Elizabeth Berndt, of Woolloongabba, Queensland
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 115, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1920 hours on 23 December 1943, Tiger Moth aircraft A17-113 and A17-472 collided at a height of 800 feet in the circuit area of the Narromine aerodrome and both pilots flying solo were killed. The aircraft crashed approximately 1.5 miles north north east of the north eastern boundary of the aerodrome.
The Pilots were:
Leading Aircraftman Thomas Desmond Berndt (426773) (Trainee Pilot A17-113)
Leading Aircraftman Terence John Hempenstall (426590) (Trainee Pilot A17-472)
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, 426773; A9845, 87