LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Thomas James DONOHUE
Service No: 411880
Born: Grafton NSW, 11 June 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 21 June 1941
Unit: No. 54 Operational Training Unit (RAF) RAF Station Charterhall, Berwickshire (Borders)
Died: Aircraft Accident: (No. 54 Operational Training Unit Blenheim aircraft BA111), Charter Hall, 10 November 1942, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Fogo Churchyard, Berwickshire, Scotland
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James and Ivy Donohue, of Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Tweed Heads NSW
Remembered: Panel 121, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 10 November 1942, Blenheim BA111 crashed during a solo local flying exercise. The aircraft struck the ground on an even keel and at an angle of glide of about 45 degrees. The cause of the accident was the failure of the starboard engine, followed by loss of control by the pilot. The aircraft stalled resulting in a spin and loss of height from which the aircraft did not recover and Flying Officer Donohue was killed.
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, 163/28/125