LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant William Patrick Joseph GREGORY-COLEMAN
Service No: 405244
Born: Brisbane QLD, 22 June 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 3 February 1941
Unit: No. 49 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Scampton
Died: Air Operations: (No. 49 Squadron Lancaster aircraft R5752), over Germany, 7 September 1942, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Ipswich Old Cemetery, Suffolk
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edward and Catherine Gregory Coleman, of Auchenflower, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 123, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 0116 hours on the morning of 6 September 1942 Lancaster R5752 took off from Scampton to bomb Duisberg, Germany. The aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire which knocked out two engines, and on return from the mission the aircraft crashed into a field near Blunt’s Wood at the back of Great Martlesham Heath, Suffolk. Prior to the crash the Captain ordered four of the crew members to bale out in the vicinity of Orford. Of the three left on board two were injured in the crash and Sergeant Gregory-Coleman had been previously killed by shrapnel from the anti-aircraft fire.
The crew members of R5752 were:
Sergeant O D Blaha (RAF) (Air Bomber) Baled out
Sergeant William Patrick Joseph Gregory-Coleman (405244) (Second Pilot)
Sergeant J Harrison (RAF) (Mid Upper Gunner) Baled out
Pilot Officer G S Jeffreys (RAF) (Pilot) Injured
Sergeant P Maloney (RAF) (Wireless Air Gunner) Injured
Sergeant J C H Morgan (RAF) (Navigator) Baled out
Sergeant W L Vander-Dasson (RCAF) (Rear Gunner) Baled out
When the starboard outer engine was put out of action by anti-aircraft fire over the target, Sergeant Gregory-Coleman was killed by shrapnel, and the Captain was slightly injured. The Captain jettisoned the bombs and turned for home. Over the Dutch coast the starboard inner failed and the aircraft steadily lost height but reached the English coast at a height of 2,000 feet. The Captain ordered the crew to bale out with the exception of the Wireless Operator. The aircraft was circling the aerodrome at Martlesham prior to landing when the port inner failed, height 1,000 feet and the Captain was compelled to crash land near Great Bealings north of the Martlesham aerodrome. The Captain and the WOP escaped from the aircraft which was destroyed by fire with the exception of the tail unit.”
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, 163/98/668
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line