LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant John Charles GRANT
Service No: 423100
Born: Bathurst NSW, 4 June 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 June 1942
Unit: No. 518 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Tiree
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 518 Squadron Anson aircraft MG468), Scotland, 3 July 1944, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Owen and Jeannie Grant, of Auburn, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Auburn NSW
Remembered: Panel 260, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 123, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Auburn R.S.L. WW2 Honour Roll, Auburn NSW
Remembered: Auburn District Memorial, Auburn NSW
At 1730 hours on 3 July 1944 Anson MG468 took off on a cross country flight from Tiree to Prestwick. The aircraft crashed into the sea 5 miles south of Rhinus Point, Isle of Islay. The aircraft ran into thick sea fog soon after take off tried to get below it, and struck the water in poor visibility. The aircraft disintegrated on hitting the water. Two of the crew who survived the crash managed to reach the dinghy, and were rescued. There was however no sign of Flight Sergeant Grant.
The crew members of MG4698 were:
Flight Sergeant D Alton (1110043) (RAFVR) (Pilot) Rescued
Flight Sergeant John Charles Grant (423100) (Wireless Operator Air)
Flying Officer D Mackenzie (132717) (RAFVR) (Navigator) Rescued
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, 166/16/366
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line