LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant John Francis CROZIER
Service No: 404327
Born: Beaudesert QLD, 11 September 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 16 August 1940
Unit: No. 104 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident: (No. 104 Squadron Wellington aircraft Z8650), Egypt, 14 July 1942, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John Francis Crozier, and of Annie Crozier, of Kalbar, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 266, Alamein Memorial, Egypt
Remembered: Panel 120, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On the night of 13 July 1942 Wellington Z8650 was detailed to carry out operations against Tobruk crashed approximately 30 miles west of Wadi Natrun. The crash occurred in poor visibility while the aircraft was descending resulting in it flying into high ground possibly as a result of changed barometric pressure. Sergeant Crozier was the only casualty. Although it was reported that he had been buried near the scene of the crash, the search for his grave was abandoned in 1946.
The crew members of Z8650 were:
Sergeant S J Berry (1380886) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant G T Cairns (1118928) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant T A Clarke (1376760) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant John Francis Crozier (404327) (Observer)
Sergeant J C Dickinson (1261166) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant W D M Embree (R/76211) (RCAF) (Second Pilot)
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, 163/98/577