LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Michael HOGAN
Service No: 418949
Born: Ararat VIC, 22 May 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 June 1942
Unit: No. 84 Operational Training Unit (RAF), RAF Station Desborough
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 84 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft X3392), Northamptonshire, 27 January 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, Oxfordshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edward James Hogan and Mary Daisy Hogan, of Richmond, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Richmond VIC
Remembered: Panel 124, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 27 January 1944, Wellington X3392 from Desborough detailed for a six hour cross-country training exercise. At 2010 hours it was reported by the Flying Control officer that the aircraft had crashed at Molesworth near Desborough at 2004 hours. A later Flying Accident report stated: “the aircraft took off at 1930 hours. At 2000 hours it was seen by the fourth witness apparently on track on the second leg of the exercise at a height of between 500/1000 feet. It was on fire. The aircraft turned to port sharply and crashed to the ground burning fiercely. The Court found: “the accident was caused by fire probably in the port engine which broke out for some unknown reason. In view of the fact that there was a hole in the wallet of the Pilot which was picked up in the debris, and which may have been caused by a bullet, it is not possible to rule out the theory that the aircraft may have been shot down, although the court considered that it was very remote that the aircraft was shot down.”
The crew members of X3392 were:
Sergeant Stanley Thomas Dean (1271352) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Milford Henry Graham (R/251339) (RCAF) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Michael Hogan (418949) (Pilot)
Sergeant Dennis Burton Palmer (1852440) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant Austin Peat (1620868) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Sidney George Tucker (1587192) (RAFVR) (Bomb Aimer)
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, 166/18/271