LEST WE FORGET
Squadron Leader Albert Norman HICK
Service No: 127
Born: Ararat VIC, 17 March 1914
Enlisted in the RAAF: 15 July 1935 (at RAAF Station Point Cook VIC)
Unit: No. 10 Squadron, RAF Pembroke Dock, Wales
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 10 Squadron Sunderland aircraft P 9603), Wales, 26 June 1941, Aged 27 Years
Buried: Pembroke Dock (Llanion) Cemetery, Pembrokeshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Albert William and Emma Jane Hick; husband of Jessie Eileen Hick, of Netherby, South Australia.
Roll of Honour: Ararat VIC
Remembered: Panel 99, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Remembered: Rathmines Memorial Bowling Club, Rathmines NSW
On the 24th June 1941, Sunderland P9603 was airborne at RAF Mount Batten, at 2100 hours detailed to carry out a reconnaissance patrol. While attempting to alight after the completion of the patrol, the aircraft overshot the flare path and crashed on rocks off Popton Point, Milford Haven. The three Pilots of the aircraft were seriously injured, but the other members of the crew escaped with minor injuries and shock. Squadron Leader Hick and Flying Officer Scutts died later of their injuries. There was an air raid “Alert” in progress at the time the aircraft crashed, and mines were dropped about five minutes after the crash.
The crew members of P9603 were:
Corporal Lawrence Spencer Young Benham (2903) (First Radio Operator) Discharged from the RAAF: 2 May 1946
Flight Lieutenant Domville (RAF) (Passenger) Seriously injured
Aircraftman Class 1 Robert Maxwell Draper (24175) (Second Fitter) Discharged from the RAAF: 5 October 1945
Corporal John Herbert Evans (4358) (First Fitter) Discharged from the RAAF: 1 April 1946
Corporal Edward Oxenham Ingram (2154) (Aircraft Mechanic/Air Gunner) Discharged from the RAAF: 19 September 1949
Squadron Leader Albert Norman Hick (127) (Second Pilot) Died 26 June 1941
Corporal James McDougall Lawrie (4571) (Second Radio Operator) Discharged from the RAAF: 17 July 1946
Leading Aircraftman Brian Francis Minton (4632) (Rigger) Discharged from the RAAF: 2 December 1946
Sergeant Stanley James Nicol (1874) (Observer) Discharged from the RAAF: 17 February 1972
Flying Officer Ronald Bruce Scutts (836) (Third Pilot) Died 27 June 1941
Aircraftman Class 1 Thomas Joseph Sheridan (22387) (Armourer) Discharged from the RAAF: 11 September 1945
Flight Lieutenant Thomas Vincent Stokes (250279) (Pilot) Discharged from the RAAF: 5 December 1945
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, 163/36/86
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line
Bibliography:
Ashworth, N. (Norman) The ANZAC Squadron: A history of No. 461 Squadron RAAF 1942-5, Hesperian Press Victoria Park WA 6100, 1994
Baff, K.C (Kevin), Maritime is Number Ten, K.C. Baff Netley SA, 1983
Joubert, P.B. (Sir Phillip Bennet) Birds and Fishes: the story of Coastal Command, Hutchinson and Company London, 1960
Southall, I.F. (Ivan Francis) (418900) They Shall Not Pass Unseen, Angus and Robertson Sydney NSW, 1956
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992