LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Nevill William DOWIE
Service No: 426066
Born: Brisbane QLD, 26 November 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 23 May 1942
Unit: No. 466 Squadron, RAF Leconfield, Yorkshire
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 466 Squadron Halifax aircraft DT554), North Sea, 3 November 1943, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Ivo Clem Aloise and Stella Doreen Dowie, of Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 195, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 110, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Halifax DT554 took off from RAF Leconfield on 3 November 1943 to carry out an air to sea firing practice training exercise. While engaged in the exercise the aircraft exploded and crashed into the sea off Flamborough Head.
The crew members of DT554 were:
Sergeant Nevill William Dowie (426066) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Sergeant Dennis Drury (1663138) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Pilot Officer Alan Grant Harris (413862) (Bomb Aimer)
Flight Sergeant William Whitelaw Johnston (425322) (Rear Gunner)
Pilot Officer Stephen John Lucas (410504) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Charles Peter North (405645) (Navigator)
Pilot Officer Frank Walton Smily (415056) (Pilot)
These members are the Squadron’s first casualties since converting to Halifax Aircraft.
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 A9301, 426066