LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Douglas CONNELL
Service No: 413827
Born: Bondi NSW, 18 September 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 13 September 1941
Unit: No. 1 Operational Training Unit
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Operational Training Unit Beaufort aircraft A9-81), Swan Reach VIC, 15 March 19453, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Bairnsdale War Cemetery, Victoria
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Walter Hector and Myrtle Maude Connell, of Croydon, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Croydon NSW
Remembered: Panel 112, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At about 1954 hours on 15 March 1943 Beaufort A9-81 took off from Bairnsdale on flying exercise DR10 and was to carry out searchlight cooperation after completing the exercise. The pilot entered the searchlight area and after completing one run was requested by searchlight base to take some avoiding action. Evasive action commenced and at 6,500 feet the aircraft commenced a steep diving turn and recovery was made at 2,000-3,000 feet. The aircraft again dived away and then apparently stalled at about 500 feet and spun into heavily timbered country and exploded. The crash was near Swan Reach at 2305 hours and all the crew members lost their lives.
The crew members of A9-81 were:
Sergeant Frederick Edward Blatchford (401734) (Navigator Bomb Aimer)
Pilot Officer Douglas Connell (413827) (Pilot)
Sergeant Neville Roy Dawson (412233) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Stuart Edward Marsden (412559) (Wireless Air Gunner)
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, 166/8/58; A9845, 243