LEST WE FORGET

Flying Officer Neville Alexander Thomas FLEMING

Service No: 414217
Born: Townsville QLD, 22 April 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 17 August 1941
Unit: No. 58 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 58 Operational Training Unit Spitfire aircraft N3221), Wales, 6 February 1943, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Llantwit Major Cemetery, Glamorganshire, Wales
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Thomas Francis and Ada Christina Fleming, of Red Hill, Queensland, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Kingaroy QLD
Remembered: Panel 122, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

During a non-operational training flight on 6 February 1943, Spitfire N3221 crashed at 1935 hours at Pendoylan, north of Bonvilstone, Wales, and Flying Officer Fleming was killed. A Flying Accident report stated: “Fleming was detailed to fly No. 3 in a formation flying exercise being led by Flight Lieutenant Plagis, and after one hour fifteen minutes of formation flying, Plagis broke up the formation, preparatory to landing. He instructed his No. 2 and No. 3 to carry out local flying and to pancake after 1 hour 30 minutes flying. Plagis landed at 1019 hours, No. 2 at 1025 hours. Fleming, who was overdue after 1 hour 30 minutes flying, was called up by radio but no reply was received. At 1040 hours a report was received that a Spitfire had crashed and burnt, seven miles north east of base. This was N3221.”

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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/13/16

Bibliography:

Ilbery, P.L.T. (Peter Leslie Thomas) (422957) Hatching an Air Force: 2SFTS, 5SFTS, 1BFTS Uranquinty and Wagga Wagga, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4650, 2002

Book Now Book Now