LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Frank HARRISON
Service No: 413863
Born: Wallsend NSW, 14 May 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 13 September 1941
Unit: No. 216 Group (RAF), No. 4 Ferry Control Unit
Died: Aircraft Accident (Wellington aircraft HE 790), Iraq, 21 July 1943, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Habbaniya War Cemetery, Iraq
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Arthur and Mildred May Harrison, of Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Wallsend NSW
Remembered: Panel 123, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Newcastle Boys High School Memorial Entrance World War II, Waratah NSW
On the 21st July 1943, Wellington HE 790 took off form RAF Habbaniya, Iraq, en route to Karachi, Eye witnesses said the take off appeared normal and the aircraft cleared the bund, going well at about 150 feet. The aircraft continued climbing and then it nosed down and crashed at 0325Z hours, one mile from the aerodrome. It was considered that the accident was caused by “loss of flying control by the Pilot, due to either fire in the aircraft or the Pilot’s incapacitation.” All the crew members were killed.
The crew members of HE 790 were:
Flight Sergeant Harold Paul Clancy (413825) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Kenneth Graig Earnshaw (1579031) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Frank Harrison (413863) (Pilot)
Sergeant Stanley Frank Hook (658749) (RAF) (Bomb Aimer)
Flight Sergeant James Whittard (416238) (Air 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, 166/17/232
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line