LEST WE FORGET
Warrant Officer John Campbell HIGGINS
Service No: 419178
Born: Mildura VIC, 4 May 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 17 July 1942
Unit: No. 2 Operational Training Unit
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 2 Operational Training Unit Kittyhawk aircraft A29-190), near Mildura, 27 August 1945, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Mildura Public Cemetery, Victoria
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edward Valentine Bindon Higgins and Jean Aitchieson Higgins, of Black Rock
Roll of Honour: Black Rock VIC
Remembered: Panel 112, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 27 August 1945, Kittyhawk A29-190 flow by Warrant Officer Higgins was flying No. 3 of a Section engaged in a normal individual high dive bombing exercise. While initiating his first dive, Warrant Officer Higgins pulled the nose of the aircraft up to reduce speed, and the aircraft rolled over on its back. He was seen during this dive to commence to line the aircraft on to the target in a slow aileron turn, which appeared to be combined through 270 degrees. The aircraft did not recover and struck the ground almost vertical and slightly inverted at right angles to the direction of the dive. The aircraft exploded on impact and Warrant Officer Higgins was killed.
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, 1665/17/1397