LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Thomas George DELLAR
Service No: 409522
Born: Rainbow VIC, 15 September 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 12 September 1941
Unit: No. 30 Operational Training Unit (RAF), RAF Station Hixon
Died: Air Operations: (No. 30 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft BK559), France, 12 June 1943, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Guyancourt Communal Cemetery, Yvelines, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George Thomas Dellar and Florence May Dellar, of Portland, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Rainbow VIC
Remembered: Panel 121, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 2300 hours on the night of 11 June 1943, Wellington BK559 took off from RAF Hixon and set course for Nantes, France, detailed to carry out a Nickel operation (leaflet drop). The aircraft became hopelessly lost and, very uncertain of their position, the Nickels were deposited around 0330 hours. The crew then attempted to set a course for home, though the aircraft was by this time very low on petrol. Eventually the order to bale out was given. However the Pilot did not have his parachute and Sergeant Davis decided to remain with the aircraft which, it was believed crash landed at Guyancourt (Seine-et-Oise), 7 kms south west of Versailles. Sergeant Davis survived the crash, evaded capture, and got as far as the Pyrenees where he was shot at the frontier.
The crew members of BK559 were:
Flight Sergeant H J D G Adams (1456552) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner) PoW
Sergeant D Bartholomew (J/118499) (RCAF) (Mid Upper Gunner) PoW
Flight Sergeant Delmar Murray Davis (R/125221) (RCAF) (Navigator) Evaded, Killed on Ground Operations: 12 June 1943
Flight Sergeant Thomas George Dellar (409522) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant J G Perfect (1324555) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber) PoW
Sergeant B C Reeves (1321751) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner) Evaded capture, returned to UK
In a later report Sergeant Reeves stated: “I was the first to bale out. The Captain gave the crew the choice of remaining with the aircraft or baling out. The Pilot had decided to attempt a forced landing. The Navigator decided to remain with the Pilot and the remainder decided to bale out. The Rear Gunner left from the turret, and the Bomb Aimer, Wireless Air Gunner and Mid Upper Gunner from the front hatch. We were flying at 5,000 feet when we baled out. The necessity to abandon the aircraft was due to a shortage of petrol, not enemy action.”
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, 166/9/107