LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Donald Frank MATHIS
Service No: 79982
Born: Waverley NSW, 22 September 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 16 December 1942 (at Brisbane QLD)
Unit: No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Tamworth NSW
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School Tiger Moth aircraft A17-354), near Tamworth NSW, 12 September 1944, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Tamworth War Cemetery, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Herbert William and Mary May Bessie Mathis, of Maryborough, Queensland
Roll of Honour: Maryborough QLD
Remembered: Panel 116, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1430 hours on 12 September 1944, Tiger Moth A17-354 flown by Leading Aircraftman Mathis took off from the main aerodrome at Tamworth on his ab initio solo training flight. He was detailed to practice spinning, side slipping, steep turns, forced landings and aerobatics, with the flying confined to the training area and duration of 1.5 hours. At approximately 1540 hours, the aircraft was observed by a group of Army defaulters working on the Goonoo Goonoo Station approximately 17 miles south of Tamworth and two miles outside the training area. The aircraft circled the area at low altitude, and when directly over a motor truck, it seemed to pause in the air, turn rather violently and crash vertically into the ground bursting into flames. It was considered that the aircraft stalled during the low right hand turn and struck the ground before any corrective action could be taken.
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, 166/27/565; A9845, 43