LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Albert Ronald MAINERD
Service No: 432221
Born: Bexley NSW, 9 August 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 5 December 1942
Unit: No. 5 Operational Training Unit
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 5 Operational Training Unit Beaufort aircraft A9-451), near Deniliquin NSW, 28 December 1943, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Deniliquin War Cemetery NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Albert and Marie Edith Mainerd, of Sydney
Roll of Honour: Bexley NSW
Remembered: Panel 112, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Beaufort A9-451 was on the last leg of a low level cross country exercise when it crashed about 20 miles west of Deniliquin at 1020 hours on 28 December 1943. There were two crew members and
Sergeant Crosby (Navigator) who was injured in the crash was sending a wireless telegraph message at the time of the accident. He stated that he felt a slight bump and on looking up the aircraft appeared to be at apparently 150 feet. The nose then appeared to go down and the aircraft struck the ground with the starboard main plane and nose. By this time Crosby had moved out of his seat and made his way to the rear hatch which he kicked open and freed himself. The aircraft was burning furiously and it was impossible to locate or Sergeant Mainerd. Flight Lieutenant Claude Robert Mascot Sladen DFC (O34624) (Discharged: 11 March 1946) of Central Flying School was flying a Wackett trainer over the area at the time. He saw an aircraft burning on the ground which he identified as a Beaufort. He landed alongside it and picked up and conveyed Crosby to Deniliquin who was admitted to Station Sick Quarters.
The crew members of A9-451 were:
Sergeant Edgar Hubert Crosby (437118) (Navigator W) Injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 19 February 1946
Sergeant Albert Ronald Mainerd (432221) (Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/27/313; A9845, 258