LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Leslie Ernest MORSHEAD
Service No: 413004
Born: Hamilton NSW, 9 July 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 15 August 1941
Unit: No. 124 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 124 Squadron Spitfire aircraft AB503), Hertfordshire, 3 June 1943 Aged 21 Years
Buried: North Weald Bassett (St Andrew) Churchyard, essex
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George Thackeray Morshead and Catherine Morshead, of New Lambton, New South Wales. Australia
Roll of Honour: Newcastle NSW
Remembered: Panel 127, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Newcastle Boys High School Memorial Entrance World War II, Waratah NSW
At 1015 hours on 3 June 1943, a Section of three Spitfires were authorised to carry out a daytime non-operational cloud flying exercise. Flight Sergeant Morshead was flying as No. 2, No. 3 was Sergeant Kelly and Warrant Officer G E Nowell was No 1. Warrant Officer Nowell reported: “the lower cloud base was between 1,500 feet and 700 feet, the upper cloud variable in thickness between 500 feet and 7000 feet. I took the Section through the lower cloud on a set course in Vic formation. Then put the Section in Line Astern and climbed through the upper cloud, and did the rate three turns before again climbing out. Nos. 2 and 3 were still with me. I climbed to 8,000 feet approximately over Sawbridgeworth, turned last in a shallow dive and levelled out to enter a ‘tower’ of cumulus about one mile diameter. On emerging I turned my aircraft to check the positions of No 2 and No 3. There was only one aircraft to be seen, No 3. I called No. 2 and received no reply. I got Mastiff to try and contact No. 2 but there was no reply. On turning my aircraft after emerging from cloud the only aircraft in sight was No 3.” Spitfire AB503 crashed at the northern edge of Sawbridgeworth aerodrome and Flight Sergeant Morshead was killed.
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, 166/28/92
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line