LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Robert John NEWBIGGING
Service No: 421819
Born: Peak Hill NSW, 17 November 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 28 March 1942
Unit: No. 5 Service Flying Training School, Uranquinty NSW
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 5 Service Flying Training School Wirraway aircraft A20-393), Wagga Wagga NSW, 1 December 1942, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Wagga Wagga General Cemetery, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Robert Thomas Charles and Edna Gertrude Newbigging, of Yarraweah
Roll of Honour: Peak Hill NSW
Remembered: Panel 116, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Narromine Cenotaph, Narromine NSW
Remembered: Former Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Head Office Honour Rolls, Sydney NSW
On 1 December 1942, Leading Aircraftman Newbigging, a Trainee Pilot was about to take his second solo night flying practice flight at the Forest Hill aerodrome in Wirraway A20-393. The aircraft reached a height of 50/100 feet above the flare path after take-off when it did a slight turn to the right, which the pilot corrected momentarily and immediately the aircraft went into a turn to the left, which developed into a diving turn and it struck the ground near the aerodrome boundary and Leading Aircraftman Newbigging 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, 163/147/348; A9845, 113
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line