LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Francis William DOONAN
Service No: 425493
Born: Mitchell QLD, 16 December 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 28 March 1942
Unit: No. 78 Squadron (RAF), RAF Breighton, Yorkshire
Died: Air Operations: (No. 78 Squadron Halifax aircraft LW330), Yorkshire, 21 December 1943, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, Yorkshire UK
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Francis Patrick and Elsie Doonan, of Albion, Queensland Australia.
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 121, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Halifax LW330 took off from RAF Breighton at 1622 hours on the night of 20/21st December 1943, detailed to attack Frankfurt, Germany. On return to base and while awaiting permission to land, the aircraft stalled and crashed at 0002 hours near Howden and burst into flames on impact. Howden is approximately 4 miles south south wast of the airfield. All the crew members were killed.
The crew members of LW330 were:
Sergeant John Michael Blake (R/190770) (RCAF) (Rear Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Francis William Doonan (425493) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant William Earl Edwards (R/191580) (RCAF) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Flying Officer Bronson Donald Heading (417483) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Francis Edward Hothersall (421934) (RNZAF) (Navigator)
Sergeant Aubrey Denys Meynell (1534900) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Warrant Officer Andrew Molloy (415167) (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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/10/160