LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer David Leckie CRICHTON
Service No: 404089
Born: Warwick QLD, 25 September 1912
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 May 1940
Unit: No. 101 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Oakington
Died: Injuries from Aircraft Accident: (No. 101 Squadron Wellington aircraft Z8860 on 30 August 1941), Cambridgeshire, 1 September 1941, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Frederick and Vera Claire Crichton of Warwick, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Warwick QLD
Remembered: Panel 120, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Wellington Z8860 took off from Oakington at 2112 hours on the night of 30 August 1941, detailed to bomb Hamburg, Germany. The aircraft crashed at Rampton, 7 miles north west of Cambridge killing Sergeant Barlow and injuring the other four crew members. Pilot Officer Crichton died of his injuries on the 1 September 1941.
The crew members of Z8860 were:
Sergeant Owen Hugh Barlow (1381373) (RAF) (Front Gunner)
Pilot Officer David Leckie Crichton (404089) (Observer) Fatally injured: Died 1 September 1941
Sergeant L A Nauze (RAF) (Wireless Air Gunner) Injured
Sergeant Myers (RAF) (Rear Gunner) Injured
Pilot Officer Reynolds (RAF) (Pilot) Injured
Remarks by the Group Commander on a Court of Inquiry stated “I concur in the findings. The take-off was delayed for some time by showers of rain, and in the past aircraft have taken off successfully after having their engines running for more than half an hour.”
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, 166/26/132 Micro Film No 463 OAFH