LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant Jack HAYTHORN
Service No: 260722
Born: Young NSW, 23 January 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 5 February 1940 (at Archerfield QLD)
Unit: No. 1 Operational Training Unit, Bairnsdale VIC
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Operational Training Unit Beaufort aircraft A9-51), near Bairnsdale, 4 April 1943, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Bairnsdale War Cemetery, VIC
CWGC Additional Information: Son of David and Kate Maud May Haythorn, of Willoughby, New South Wales.
Roll of Honour: Willoughby NSW
Remembered: Panel 112, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: St Stephen’s Church Willoughby Book of Remembrance, Willoughby NSW
In 1942 while serving with No. 2 Squadron, Flight Lieutenant Haythorn participated in evacuations from Ambon in which a number of personnel were unable to be evacuated including Wing Commander Ernest Dallas Scott AFC (250101) (Headquarters RAAF Station Darwin).
On 4 April 1943, Beaufort A9-51 crashed at the Bengworden Masthead Bombing Range during a low level practice attack. The port engine failed, the aircraft turned to port, crashed and burned.
The crew members of A9-51 were:
Sergeant Geoffrey Keith Bennewith (415004) (Wireless Air Gunner) Survived, Discharged from the RAAF: 22 May 1946
Sergeant Frank Edwards (415008) (Wireless Air Gunner) Survived, Discharged from the RAAF: 19 July 1946
Pilot Officer James Warren Hall (415525) (Pilot) Survived, Discharged from the RAAF: 2 January 1945
Flight Lieutenant Jack Haythorn (260722) (Pilot, Instructor)
Flight Sergeant Ross Nicholas George Zimbulis (406419) (Observer)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 242
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line