LEST WE FORGET
Warrant Officer George Henry MINCHIN
Service No: 421661
Born: 10 February 1916, Location unavailable
Enlisted in the RAAF: 28 February 1942
Unit: No. 420 Squadron (RCAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 420 Squadron Halifax aircraft LK803), Yorkshire, 19 July 1944, Aged 27 Years
Buried: Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, Yorkshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Hugh and Esme Lynette Minchin; husband of Ivy Lorna Minchin, of Leeton, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Leeton NSW
Remembered: Panel 133, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: ANZAC Memorial Clock, Leeton NSW
At 1130 hours on 19 July 1944, Halifax LK803 took off from Tholthorpe detailed to carry out a fighter affiliation exercise, but the aircraft spun and crashed within three minutes of take-off. All the crew of five members was killed.
The crew members of LK803 were:
Pilot Officer Wilfred Stanley Barnard (J/92350) (RCAF) (Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Stanley John Joplin (J/24979) (RCAF) (Pilot)
Pilot Officer Gerald Albion Kent (C/90305) (RCAF) (Air Gunner)
Warrant Officer George Henry Minchin (421661) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Norman John Shand (179632) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
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 A9301, 421661
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line