LEST WE FORGET

Flight Sergeant Raymond John CROTTY

Service No: 410957
Born: South Yarra VIC, 5 March 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 April 1942
Unit: No. 4 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 4 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit Anson aircraft MG356), Kirkcudbrightshire, 21 July 1944, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Stoneykirk Cemetery, Wigtownshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Cornelius John and Annie Crotty, of South Yarra, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Prahran VIC
Remembered: Panel 120, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

On the 21st July 1944, Avro Anson MG356 with a crew of five crashed into Lamacham Hill, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, about eight miles north east of Newton Stewart. The aircraft was on a night navigation exercise, when at about 0450 hours it struck the top of the hill (height about 2,250 feet). All on board were killed.

The crew members of MG356 were:

Sergeant Bertram Ernest William Becker (1603389) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber under instruction)
Sergeant Edward Hugh Patrick Gresswell (1851841) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Raymond John Crotty (410957) (Pilot)
Sergeant Darius Bede Northmore (432683) (Navigator under instruction)
Warrant Officer Peter Smith (407993) (Staff Wireless Operator Air)

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, 166/8/563

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