LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Collin Arthur CAMPBELL
Service No: 425831
Born: Mount Morgan QLD, 10 January 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 21 May 1942
Unit: No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School, Narromine NSW
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School Tiger Moth aircraft A17-337), near Narromine, 24 May 1943, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Narromine War Cemetery, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Alexander Buchanan Campbell and Violet Campbell, of Rannes, Queensland
Roll of Honour: Jambin QLD
Remembered: Panel 115, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 24 May 1943, Leading Aircraftman Campbell, a Trainee Pilot, was authorised to fly Tiger Moth A17-337 from 1445 to 1630 hours in a south westerly direction, and carry out medium turns, powered approach and landings, cautionary landings, steep turns, climbing turns, forced landings and aerobatics. At approximately 1600 hours a phone call from Mr Gainsford of Backwater road reported that an aircraft had crashed adjacent to his home and an ambulance and Medical Officer was despatched to the scene. Eye witnesses stated that the aircraft stalled at a low altitude and dived into the ground. It was apparently doing aerobatics at not less than the authorised height, after which the aircraft lost height quite normally down to about 500 to 1,000 feet. It then flew in a westerly direction across the house, turned through a normal of 180 degrees, when the aircraft appeared to lose height and crashed. It was considered that engine failure was not a contributory factor.
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, 166/7/111; A9845, 42