LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant Robert Edward HITCHCOCK
Service No: 115
Born: Fremantle WA, 19 June 1912
Enlisted in the RAAF: 19 June 1930 (at RAAF Station Laverton VIC)
Unit: No. 2 Squadron, RAAF Station Laverton VIC
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 2 Squadron Hudson aircraft Hudson A16-97), Canberra ACT, 13 August 1940, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Springvale Cemetery, Melbourne VIC
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Henry Wyman Smith Hitchcock and Violet Elizabeth Hitchcock; husband of Olive Blanche Hitchcock, of East St. Kilda
Roll of Honour: Perth WA
Remembered: Panel 98, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1050 hours on 13 August 1940, No. 2 Squadron Hudson A16-97 spun and crashed 3 kms east of Canberra aerodrome. Everyone on board was killed. This accident had profound affects on the highest level of Australia’s Government and Defence hierarchy during a critical period early in World War II. On board A16-97 were:
Crew:
Aircraftman Charles Joseph Crosdale (6673) (Flight Mechanic)
Flight Lieutenant Robert Edward Hitchcock (115) (Pilot)
Corporal John Frederick Palmer (2130) (Wireless Operator)
Pilot Officer Richard Frederick Wiesener (607) (Co-Pilot)
Passengers:
Mr. Richard Elford (Secretary to the Minister for Air)
The Honourable James Valentine Fairbairn (Minister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation)
The Honourable Sir Henry Somer Gullett (Vice President of the Executive Council, Minister in Charge of Scientific and Industrial Research and Minister assisting the Minister for Information)
Brigadier the Honourable Geoffrey Austin Street (Minister for the Army and Minister for Repatriation)
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Thornthwaite DSO MC (V159753) (Army Headquarters)
Lieutenant General Sir Cyril Brudenell Bingham White KCB KCMG KCVO DSO (Chief of the General Staff)
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 A705, 166/17/1565
Bibliography:
Bennett, J. (John William) Highest Traditions: the history of No. 2 Squadron RAAF, Australian Government Publishing Service, 1995
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992