LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant John Joseph DRAKE BEM
Service No: 50354
Born: Melbourne VIC, 21 December 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 29 January 1942
Unit: No. 1 Operational Training Unit, East Sale VIC
Awarded the Order of the British Empire – Medal (BEM), 9 March 1945 (Citation Title: Brave Conduct during a fire in an Aircraft)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Operational Training Unit Ventura aircraft A59-9), Sale, 23 February 1945, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Sale War Cemetery, VIC
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James Patrick and Maria Victoria Drake, of Brighton.
Roll of Honour: Brighton Beach VIC
Remembered: Panel 112, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
The loss of Ventura aircraft A59-9 with six men on board was due to a dense fog which rolled in about mid-afternoon on 23 February 1945. Four radar mechanics accompanied the Flying Officer pilot and Warrant Officer wireless operator/air gunner on board the Ventura to conduct a radar test flight and their crashed aeroplane was found the next morning near East Sale. The incidence of aircraft accidents due to fog in the area was however, surprisingly light but this weather phenomenon continues to challenge aircrew today as East Sale is recognised as the second foggiest aerodrome in Australia.
Extract from Lax, M. (Mark) (editor) Always Ready: a history of RAAF East Sale, RAAF Publications Unit Melbourne VIC, 1993 – Page 41
The six RAAF Members killed in the crash of Ventura aircraft A59-9 were:
Leading Aircraftman Kellems Richards Davey (141547) (Radar Mechanic A)
Sergeant John Joseph Drake BEM (50354) (Navigator)
Warrant Officer John James Lord (409158) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Alan Murray McKay (409479) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer William Charles Thomas Robinson (415551) (Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman Marcus Rosalky (72799) (Radar Mechanic A)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 114