LEST WE FORGET

Flight Sergeant Mervyn Francis NOLAN

Service No: 414505
Born: Wondai QLD, 22 September 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 11 October 1941
Unit: No. 453 Squadron, RAF Station Perranporth, Cornwall
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 453 Squadron Spitfire aircraft EE727), Cornwall, 13 September 1943, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Illogan (St Illogan) Churchyard, Cornwall
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George Saunders Nolan and Hannah Nolan, of Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Murgon QLD
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

On 13 September 1943, Spitfire EE727 flown by Flight Sergeant Nolan together with other aircraft had carried out a non-operational cine gun exercise. EE727 was No. 2 in the Section and was landing after Pilot Officer Harold Mason Parker (403763) (Killed: 8 October 1943) his No 1. EE 127 was obviously over shooting when halfway down the runway, but the pilot let it run before opening up and attempting to go around again. He had barely gained flying speed when he struck overhead wires. The aircraft stalled and crashed onto a house 200 yards from the main gate at RAF Station Perranporth, Cornwall.

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, 166/30/29

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