LEST WE FORGET

Flying Officer John LEDGERWOOD

Service No: 421863
Born: Burwood NSW, 24 August 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 28 March 1942
Unit: No. 13 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 13 Operational Training Unit Mitchell aircraft FL193), Buckinghamshire, 21 September 1943, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, Oxfordshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James Francis and Constance Irene Ledgerwood, of Griffith, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Summer Hill NSW
Remembered: Panel 125, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Ganmain District War Memorial Park and Honor Roll, Ganmain NSW
Remembered: Griffith Cenotaph, Griffith NSW
Remembered: University of Sydney World War 2 Roll of Honour, Camperdown NSW

On 21 September 1943 Mitchell FL193 took off from RAF Finmere satellite airfield detailed to carry out a non-operational training exercise. Shortly after take-off at 2115 hours the aircraft crashed 3 miles from the aerodrome at Steeple Claydon, Buckinghamshire, and burned out. All the crew members were killed.

The crew members of FL193 were:

Sergeant Eric George Bailey (422375) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer John Ledgerwood (421863) (Pilot)
Sergeant Michael Justin Tymms (422324) (Air Gunner)

A report on the Flying accident stated “the aircraft struck the ground at a very shallow angle and apparently at a very high speed as the engines were some 1,000 yards from the point of impact. Both motors appear to have been under power. It is possible that the accident may have been due to faulty instrument flying or that the Navigator may have fouled the controls getting in to the co-pilots seat.”

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, 166/24/182
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line

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