LEST WE FORGET

Sergeant Lindsay James Sutherland McCOLL

Service No: 405796
Born: Goondiwindi QLD, 9 July 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 June 1941
Unit: No. 5 Communication Unit, Garbutt QLD
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 5 Communication Unit Dragon aircraft A34-24), near Cairns QLD, 7 March 1943, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Cairns Cemetery QLD
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Lindsay Gordon and Susan Gibson McColl, of Goondiwindi
Roll of Honour: Goondiwindi QLD
Remembered: Panel 112, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

On 7 March 1943, Dragon A34-24 crashed while flying in Freshwater Valley, near Cairns. The primary cause of the accident was that the aircraft entered the valley at too low an altitude and was unable to climb over the surrounding mountains and consequently crashed into the side of a mountain while attempting to turn around. On board were:

Aircraftman Class 1 Ronald Henry Appleby (412876) (Flight Rigger): Injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 15 March 1946
Lieutenant Colonel Philip Heathcote George Cardale (NX483) Injured, Discharged from the Army: 7 April 1947
Brigadier John Wilson Crawford (NX378) (11 Infantry Brigade)
Sergeant Lindsay James Sutherland McColl (405796) (Pilot)
Lieutenant Arthur William Morris (NX145648) (11 Infantry Brigade)

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 A9845, 211

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