LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Patrick Adair BLACK
Service No: 558
Born: 1 December 1917, Location Unavailable
Enlisted in the RAAF: Date Unavailable
Unit: No. 3 Service Flying Training School, Amberley QLD
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 3 Service Flying Training School Wirraway aircraft A20-201), Amberley, 12 February 1941, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Ipswich General Cemetery, QLD
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Arthur Laughton Black and Beatrice Agnes Black; husband of Vida Joy Black, of Melbourne, Victoria.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 115, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At Amberley on 12 February 1941, Wirraway aircraft A20-201 and A20-138 collided, killing all four crew members on both aircraft. The collision occurred on the ground – one of the aircraft taking off struck the other aircraft that was taxying back to the lines. The cause of the accident is given as apparent carelessness and lack of vigilance. The crew members were:
A20-201
Flying Officer Patrick Adair Black (558) (Instructor Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman Raymond John Humphry (406250) (Trainee Pilot)
A20-138
Leading Aircraftman Douglas Porter Scott (406229) (Trainee Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Nigel Watson (1945) (Instructor Pilot)
References:
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 173