LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Richard Evan DAVIES
Service No: 418502
Born: Bendigo VIC, 4 July 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 22 May 1942
Unit: No. 7 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 7 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit Master aircraft AZ609), Cambridgeshire, 25 September 1943, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, Oxfordshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John Evan Davies and Amy Irene Davies, of Frankston, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Frankston VIC
Remembered: Panel 121, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On the 25 September 1943, Master AZ609 took off for formation flying practice of about 45 minutes duration. The formation broke up at Sibson drome. Pilot Officer Davies, flying solo, then flew close to a Lightning aircraft, which dived away and then climbed up and executed a roll at the top of its climb. The Pilot of the Lightning then looked down and saw the Master climbing up steeply and it suddenly went into a spin. It was considered that the accident was due to “the Master stalling when climbing too steeply. The Pilot had also engaged in a dog fight with the Lightning in disobedience of an order.”
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, 166/9/183