LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Grahame Hilton CLOTHIER
Service No: 411865
Born: Queanbeyan NSW, 29 April 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 21 June 1941
Unit: No. 15 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit (RAF), RAF Station Kirmington
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 15 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit Oxford aircraft R6081), Yorkshire, 27 September 1942, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Doncaster (Rose Hill) Cemetery, Yorkshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Hilton Arthur and Sylvia Clothier, of Hazelbrook, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Canberra ACT
Remembered: Panel 120, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Queanbeyan and District Honour Roll, Queanbeyan NSW
Remembered: Queanbeyan Anglican Church Combined WW1 and WW2 Honour Roll, Lych Gate, and Dedicated Cross, Queanbeyan NSW
At 0840 hours on 27 September 1942, Oxford R6081 took off from Kirmington on a solo cross country training flight. The aircraft crashed at North Anston near Sheffield and Sergeant Clothier was killed. The course was Kirmington (Base) – Worksop-Worksop Kettering- Kettering- Boston- Base. A Court of Inquiry into the accident reported: “the weather was good on take-off but the Pilot had been warned to watch the weather. He encountered heavy and widespread fog for some miles in the course of the cross country flight, and came down to get a pin point and probably to make a precautionary landing. The aircraft struck a tree and crashed. The accident was considered to be an error of judgement by the pilot not to turn back to base, nor should he have some down to pin point his position.” The Group Commander of No 21 Group stated: “both Flying Officer Ross* and Robinson* were blameworthy and irresponsible in permitting Clothier to proceed when the weather report clearly indicated hazy and extensive fog patches over part of the route; also Flight Lieutenant Stule* for not executing sufficient control must also share responsibility accordingly.”
* RAF Officers not able to be further identified from the NAA record.
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, 163/97/174
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line