LEST WE FORGET

Pilot Officer John Edward ESTELL

Service No: 423087
Born: Haberfield NSW, 18 January 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 June 1942
Unit: No. 100 Squadron (RAF), RAF Grimsby, Lincolnshire
Died: Air Operations: (No. 100 Squadron Lancaster aircraft LL958), France, 1 July 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: La Fetre-St. Cyr Communal Cemetery, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John William and Leah Madge Estell, of Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Haberfield NSW
Remembered: Panel 121, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Wingham Memorial Town Hall, Wingham NSW

Lancaster LL958 took off from RAF Grimsby at 2224 hours on the night of 30 June 1944 detailed to bomb railway yards at Vierzon, France.. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. The aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed in the village of La-Ferte St Cyr, France, and all the crew were killed.

The crew members of LL958 were:

Flight Sergeant John Keith Cory (413761) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer John Edward Estell (423087) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant James Albert Hollands (429620) (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant William James Marks (1676946) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Flight Sergeant Norman Walter Miles (423833) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant William Wayne Ozeroff (R/181436) (RCAF) (Navigator)
Flight Sergeant Anthony John Routley (419140) (Mid Upper Gunner)

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, 166/11/155
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line

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