LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Michael John HACKETT
Service No: 429948
Born: Largs Bay SA, 6 December 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 10 October 1942
Unit: No. 101 Squadron (RAF), RAF Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire
Died: Air Operations (No. 101 Squadron Lancaster aircraft DV275), France, 4 May 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Poivres Churchyard, Aube, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Francis Patrick and Mary Veronica Hackett, of Port Pirie, South Australia.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 123, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Lancaster DV275 took off from RAF Ludford Magna on the night of 3/4th May 1944, detailed to carry specialist Airborne Cigar (ABC) (radar jamming) duties over the target of military camp installations at Mailly-le-Camp, France. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. The aircraft was hit by batteries sighted in the north east area of the camp and crashed 1 km south west of Poivres (Aube).
The crew members of DV275 were:
Flight Sergeant Sydney Wilson Ainsworth (1338301) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Flying Officer George Baker (157833) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Pilot Officer George Alexander Blair (153893) (RAFVR) (Specialist Equipment Operator)
Sergeant David Harry Cro (1627552) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Flight Sergeant Michael John Hackett (429948) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Warrant Officer Donald Hubert McNaught (413135) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Arthur John Ridgway (1624836) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner)
Flight Sergeant John Edwin Steward (1457149) (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, 166/17/566