LEST WE FORGET

Flying Officer Eric Matthew Montagu O’CONNOR

Service No: 425202
Born: Rockhampton QLD, 29 March 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 January 1942
Unit: No. 42 Operational Training Unit (RAF), RAF Station Ashbourne
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 42 Operational Training Unit Albermarle aircraft P1463), Derbyshire, 30 March 1944, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, Oxfordshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Matthew Michael and Anne Mary Montagu O’Connor, of Ashgrove, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 128, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

At 2015 hours on the 30 March 1944, Flying Officer Revitt, a screened Pilot, was detailed to give local dual to two Pilots under conversion training. The take-off was delayed until 2330 hours due to snow showers. One and a half minutes after take-off, the aircraft collided with some high tension wires on the ground 200 feet above aerodrome height, and about 3 miles in line of the take off. The collision skewed the aircraft to port and 200 yards further on it struck the tops of trees. The aircraft then flew in a straight line climbing to at least 100 feet to clear a hill. On the other side of the hill it lost height and crashed at a flat angle into rising ground about one mile further on from the high tension cables. The aircraft crashed 3 miles north of Ashbourne, Derbyshire. It burnt on impact and everyone on board was killed.

The crew members of P1463 were:

Flight Sergeant Samuel Morrison (985979) (RAFVR) (Pilot under instruction)
Flying Officer Eric Matthew Montagu O’Connor (425202) (Pilot under instruction)
Flying Officer Douglas Reginald Revitt (169424) (RAFVR) (Screened Pilot)
Sergeant Kenneth George Bruce Scammell (1335699) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)

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, 166/31/170

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