LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Ernest Norman DEATH
Service No: 424741
Born: Grenfell NSW, 30 January 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 9 October 1942
Unit: No. 27 Operational Training Unit (RAF), RAF Station Lichfield
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 27 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft BK152), Lichfield, 10 September 1943, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Chester (Blacon) Cemetery, Cheshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George Carrington Death and Ethel Amanda Death of Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Caragabal NSW
Remembered: Panel 121, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Caragabal and District Honour Roll, Caragabal NSW
Remembered: St Peters Church Memorial Plaques, Caragabal NSW
Remembered: Weddin Shire and Grenfell War Memorials, Grenfell NSW
At 2144 hours on 10 September 1943, Wellington BK152 took off from Lichfield detailed to carry out night dual circuits and landings. At around 2245 hours, the aircraft came in to land on the Hixon runway, but touched down too far along the airstrip. The throttles were opened and the aircraft began to climb until without any hint of trouble, it dived into a house less that a mile south west of the airfield. It was thought likely that the flaps were raised in error for the undercarriage. All the crew members were killed.
The crew members of BK152 were:
Sergeant Ernest Norman Death (424741) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Darcey James Fernance (420652) (Pilot)
Flying Officer Neil Gordon Stewart DFM (400497) (Screened Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Frank Craven Stringer (410745) (Navigator)
Pilot Officer Tasman Foskett Swinney (421642) (Air Bomber)
Flight Sergeant Alan John Vickerman (418597) (Wireless Air Gunner)
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, 166/9/168
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line