LEST WE FORGET

Warrant Officer John Edward JACKSON

Service No: 405209
Born: Toowoomba QLD, 3 June 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 3 February 1941
Unit: No. 10 Squadron, RAF Mount Batten, Plymouth
Died: Air Operations: (No. 10 Squadron Sunderland aircraft DW4004), North Atlantic Ocean, 17 May 1943, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edward and Nora Jackson, of Paddington, Queensland, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 191, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 99, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Rathmines Memorial Bowling Club, Rathmines NSW

On the 17th May 1943, Sunderland DW 4004 took off from RAF Mount Batten at 0517 hours detailed to carry out an anti-submarine patrol in an area bounded by positions 48N 40W, 47.20N, 11.40W and 45.30N 0910W and 47.50N 08.50W. Nothing was heard from the aircraft which failed to return to base.

The crew members of DW 4004 were:

Flying Officer Robert George Bowley DFC (416015) (Navigator)
Flying Officer Victor James Corless (401913) (Navigator Under Training)
Sergeant Terence Henry Doran (20388) (Fitter 11E)
Sergeant Jack Hamilton Hogg (32834) (Flight Engineer)
Warrant Officer John Edward Jackson (405209) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Warrant Officer John Colwyn Kelly (407986) (Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Malcolm Keith McKenzie (408662) (Pilot)
Pilot Officer Norman James McLeod (207727) (Third Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman James Murdoch (21704) (Fitter 11A)
Squadron Leader Thomas Wylie Patrick (1761) (Armament Officer / Armourer)
Sergeant James Andrew Pearce (27195) (Wireless Maintenance Mechanic)
Flying Officer Kenneth Lovett Ridings (416613) (Second Pilot)

Wing Commander Geoff Hartnell (1) (Commanding Officer No. 10 Squadron) noted in his diary on that day: ‘McKenzie was shot down by Ju.88s in the Bay; we think about 0830. We didn’t know about it until he was overdue because he didn’t send out any messages. Reg Marks (Flight Commander) (2) went out looking for him at night but didn’t find any trace. The ’88s have been a bit active of late and Mac was about the fourth or fifth in a couple of days’.

(1) Air Vice Marshal Geoffrey Clarke Hartnell CBE was discharged from the RAAF on 17 April 1968.
(2) Wing Commander Reginald William Marks (477) was discharged from the RAAF on 21 June 1946.

Extract from Baff, K.C (Kevin), Maritime is Number Ten, K.C. Baff Netley SA, 1983 – Page 279.

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, 166/20/44
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
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

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