LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Adrian West ESSEX
Service No: 417354
Born: Brighton SA, 29 August 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 25 April 1942
Unit: No. 103 Squadron (RAF), RAF Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire
Died: Air Operations (No. 103 Squadron Lancaster aircraft MG491), North West Europe, 19 March 1945, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Henry and Zealia Bethia Essex, of Brighton, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Brighton SA
Remembered: Panel 283, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 121, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Lancaster MG491 of No. 103 Squadron left RAF Station Elsham Wolds on the night of 18 March 1945 to operate against Hanau, Germany. Since take off nothing further was heard of the aircraft or crew. The crew is recorded as missing with no known grave.
The crew members of MG491 were:
Sergeant John Edward Aldridge (651629) (RAF) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Sergeant Stanley Armitage (1590063) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator/Air)
Flying Officer Adrian West Essex (417354) (Pilot)
Sergeant Charles Henry Gregory (1596752) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant Walter James Jewiss (1337264) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Leonard Pendleton (3051692) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Albert Edward Whiteing (1801096) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
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, 166/12/171
Bibliography:
Charlwood, D.E.C. (Donald Ernest Cameron) (408794) No Moon Tonight (Angus and Robertson 1956), Penguin Ringwood VIC, 3134, 1991