LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Keith John CHANDLER
Service No: 405296
Born: Brisbane QLD, 10 April 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 2 March 1941
Unit: No. 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit Hudson aircraft AE646), off Cumbria, 20 August 1942, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John Beals Chandler and Lydia Isabel Chandler, of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His brother, Roger Staniforth Chandler (435535), also died on service.
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 112, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 120, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 20 August 1942, Hudson AE646 of No 1 (Coastal) Operational Training collided with Hudson T9273 during practice formation flying and crashed into the sea 2.5 miles north west of Grune Point, Solway Firth, Cumberland. All four crew members were killed.
The crew members of AE646 were:
Sergeant John Browne (1122742) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Keith John Chandler (405296) (Pilot)
Sergeant Alfred John Philip Howe (1375245) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Leslie Hargrave (1020799) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
The names and fates of the crew members of T9273 are not available in the NAA records.
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, 163/96/163