LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Eric CROMPTON
Service No: 401029
Born: Manchester, England, 28 October 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 8 December 1940 (at Melbourne VIC)
Unit: No. 62 Squadron (RAF), Alor Star, Malaya
Died: Air Operations: (No. 62 Squadron Blenheim aircraft L8440), Malaya, 1 January 1942, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Frank and Florence Crompton, of Noble Park, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Noble Park VIC
Remembered: Column 421, Singapore Memorial, Singapore
Remembered: Panel 120, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Blenheim L8440 was reported missing on air operations in the Far East, believed to be Java, on 1 January 1942. In a 1948 report, all members of the crew were recorded as having no known grave. In a 1951 report from the Commander in Chief, Far East Land Force, it was reported that the aircraft was missing in air operations over Kluang, Malaya, and that the graves were not located.
The crew members of L8440 were:
Pilot Officer Eric Crompton (401029) (Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Geoffrey William Haigh MID (81335) (RAFVR)
Flying Officer Frank Martin (80560) (RAFVR)
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, 163/26/164