LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer John MITCHELL
Service No: 400994
Born: Elsternwick VIC, 30 July 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 7 December 1940
Unit: No. 8 Squadron
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 8 Squadron Beaufort aircraft A9-264), Bohle River QLD, 6 July 1943, Aged 27 Years
Buried: Townsville War Cemetery QLD
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John and Emily Jane Mitchell, of Elsternwick, Victoria
Roll of Honour: Brighton VIC
Remembered: Panel 99, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At about 1150 hours on 6 July 1943, Beaufort A9-264 suffered a double engine failure and made a forced landing in lightly timbered country about 3 kms south west of the Bohle airfield. The aircraft burst into flames on impact, killing Flying Officer Courtman and Pilot Officer Mitchell, and fatally injuring Flight Sergeant Cole and Flying Officer Goodisson.
The crew members of A9-264 were:
Flight Sergeant David Llewellyn Cole (401419) (Navigator Bomb Aimer)
Flying Officer Daniel William Courtman (405347) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer John Francis Goodisson (401786) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer John Mitchell (400994) (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 A9845, 250