LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Francis James CALLAGHAN
Service No: 20203
Born: Glen Innes NSW, 9 August 1914
Enlisted in the RAAF: 29 July 1940
Unit: No. 4 Operational Training Unit
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 4 Operational Training Unit Wirraway aircraft A20-93), near RAAF Station Williamtown, 3 March 1943, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Newcastle (Sandgate) War Cemetery, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John and Mary Veronica Callaghan, of Glen Innes
Roll of Honour: Glen Innes NSW
Remembered: Panel 112, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall, Sandgate NSW
At about 0330 hours on 3 March 1943, Wirraway A20-93 took off detailed to carry out a training flight of circuits and landings at night. The aircraft crashed in a paddock, about 1.5 miles from the Williamtown aerodrome and both the crew members died of their injuries. The aircraft crashed when making a forced landing due to engine failure on take-off.
The crew members of A20-93 were:
Sergeant Francis James Callaghan (20203) (Pilot under conversion)
Sergeant Edward Albert Thuell (413285) (Wireless Air Gunner under conversion)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/7/37; A9845, 104
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line