LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Geoffrey Albert HEBBLEWHITE
Service No: 421272
Born: Hurstville NSW, 28 November 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 January 1942
Unit: No. 15 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 15 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft W5712), off the English Coast, 23 December 1943, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Alfred Charles and Levena Mary Hebblewhite, of Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Hurstville NSW
Remembered: Panel 192, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 123, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Hurstville War Memorial, Hurstville NSW
On 23 December 1943 Wellington W5712 took off from RAF Harwell to carry out a night cross country flight and air to sea firing. A distress message was received from the aircraft at about 0115 hours, when W5712 was plotted as being on track and west of the Scillies. Soon after a second
Distress message was received and then nothing further. The aircraft failed to return to base.
The crew members of W5712 were:
Sergeant Charles Griggs (1141059) (RAFVR) (Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Geoffrey Albert Hebblewhite (421272) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Arthur Lipshitz DFM (1383809) (RAFVR) (Navigator) Remains recovered
Sergeant Arthur Charles Recce Miles (1339546) (RAFVR) (Second Navigator)
Sergeant Frederick William Mittonette (2220959) (RAFVR) (Gunner)
Flying Officer Donald Eugene Raymond (J/24590) (RCAF) (Pilot)
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, 166/17/413
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line