LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant Richard William LITCHFIELD
Service No: 401239
Born: Merbein VIC, 20 January 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 5 January 1941
Unit: No. 454 Squadron, Falconara, Italy
Died: Air Operations: (No. 454 Squadron Baltimore 5 aircraft FW 701, Lemestre, Italy, 23 August 1944, Aged 27 Years
Buried: Florence War Cemetery, Italy
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Charles Henry and Jeannette May Litchfield, of Merbein, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Merbein VIC
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Flight Lieutenant Litchfield survived the crash of No. 459 Squadron Hudson aircraft FH227 (Flying Officer Reginald Alexander McFarlane (401136) (Pilot)) on 12 March 1943.
At about 1700 hours on 23 August 1944, Baltimore FW701 was hit by anti-aircraft fire while over its target at Lemestre, Italy. The aircraft burst into flames, became uncontrollable and crashed, killing Flight Lieutenant Litchfield. The crew members of FW701 were:
Warrant Officer Samuel George Birtles (418049) (Navigator) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF; 7 December 1945
Flying Officer Keith Alister Howard (423741) (Pilot) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 24 October 1945
Flight Lieutenant Richard William Litchfield (401239) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Christian Auriol Fervig Murray (426648) (Wireless Air Gunner) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 14 September 1945
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, 166/24/44