LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Frank Simpson HOWARTH
Service No: 412332
Born: Randwick NSW, 27 June 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 22 June 1941
Unit: No. 1 Service Flying Training School (RCAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Service Flying Training School Harvard aircraft 2616), Lake Simcoe, Ontario, 14 February 1942, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Harry Oliver and Thelma Lucy Howarth, of Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Strathfield NSW
Remembered: Panel 2, Column 1, Ottawa Memorial, Ontario
Remembered: Panel 133, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Strathfield World War 2 Roll Of Honour, Strathfield NSW
Harvard 2616 was flying at 15,000 feet in a formation of three on a training exercise on 14
February, 1942. The formation encountered a heavy snow storm towards the end of the exercise in the vicinity of Lake Simcoe. Harvard 2616 went out of control and dived into the sea crashing through the ice and disappearing. The position was about 6 miles off shore, and some 7.5 miles north east of Big Bay Point, Lake Simcoe, Ontario. The pilots of the other aircraft flew over the crash scene, but no sign was seen of the aircraft or crew members.
The crew members of 2616 were:
Leading Aircraftman Frank Simpson Howarth (412332) (Student Pilot)
Pilot Officer James Temple Blackwood Martin (J/9859) (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, 163/123/212
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line