LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Allan Edwin CARSON
Service No: 404537
Born: Brisbane QLD, 5 March 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 13 September 1940
Unit: No. 462 Squadron, Fayid, Egypt
Died: Air Operations: (No. 462 Squadron Halifax aircraft W7679), Crete, 6 September 1942, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Suda Bay War Cemetery, Crete
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Cecil Ruddle Carson and Alys Beatrice Carson, of Nundah, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 120, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
The formation of No. 462 Squadron RAAF at Fayid on 6th September 1942 did not provide any real addition to Australian strength. This was merely a fusion of crews and aircraft of Nos. 10 and 76 Squadrons of RAF Bomber Command which had been temporarily loaned to Middle East Command. All its ground complement and all its aircrew except one (1) were British and it was less Australian in character than any other squadron in No. 205 Group.
(1) It would appear from that Flight Sergeant Carson was the only Australian in No. 462 Squadron on the day it was formed.
Extract from Herington, J. (John) (406545) Air War Against Germany and Italy 1939-1943, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1954 – Page 360
The No. 462 Squadron Operations Record Book Halifax W7679 was leading a formation of three aircraft from the Squadron which bombed Heraklion aerodrome, Crete at 1920 hours on 6 September 1942. W7679 made its run over the target and bombed in a shallow dive pulling out at 7000 feet. The starboard outer engine was hit by light flak at the end of the run and petrol was seen to stream away tanks 5 and 6 presumably. Shortly after flames appeared on this engine almost at the same time the petrol stopped streaming out. As the fire continued to grow the pilot turned south onto course. After turning the aircraft side slipped to port thus keeping the flames away from the inboard section of the wing and fuselage. At this time a figure presumably the Tail Gunner was seen by other crews to bale out of the rear turret successfully south east of Kastelli Pediada, Crete, at 6000 feet. Soon after another chute was seen to open and later just before the breaking up of the starboard wing which was caused by the fire, 3 more chutes were seen to open. The crew of No 3 aircraft did not see a sixth chute but the crew of No 2 aircraft saw a single chute before the whole aircraft broke up in the air and it would appear that the sixth and last member of the crew was the Captain. Immediately after this, the aircraft crashed in flames south east of Kastelli Pediada.
The crew members of W7679 were:
Sergeant J Bradley (1057447) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner) Baled out, Evaded capture
Flight Sergeant Allan Edwin Carson (404537) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Squadron Leader Alan Egbert Hacking (63487) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant J W McFarlane (568967) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer) Baled Out, Evaded capture
Flight Sergeant William Jeremiah Porritt DFM (R/58432) (RCAF) (Tail Gunner)
Pilot Officer Newton Herron Turner (J/15376) (RCAF) (Observer) Baled out, PoW
CWGC records show Squadron Leader Hacking and Flight Sergeant Porritt serving with No. 227 Squadron (RAF). The No. 227 Squadron ground crews were also incorporated into the newly formed No. 462 Squadron.
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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/95/367