LEST WE FORGET

Pilot Officer William Henry OSBORNE

Service No: 411513
Born: Milton NSW, 25 February 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 May 1941
Unit: No. 1 Air Observers School, Evans Head NSW
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Air Observers School Anson aircraft LT 781), Glen Innes NSW, 11 September 1944, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Evans Head War Cemetery, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Ernest and Regina Josephine Osborne; husband of Francis Jean Osborne, of Parkes
Roll of Honour: Wollongong NSW
Remembered: Panel 116, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

Pilot Officer Osborne survived the crash of No. 100 squadron Beaufort aircraft A9-89 (Squadron Leader Clifford Sidney Bernard (259) (Pilot)) on 28 September 1942.

On a navigation training exercise on 11 September 1944, Avro Anson LT781 crashed at Glen Innes, New South Wales, and all five RAAF members on board were killed. On board were:

Leading Aircraftman Roy Cecil Edwards (440278) (Trainee Navigator)
Leading Aircraftman William John Ervin (431474) (Trainee Navigator)
Sergeant Joan Mary McCormack (92527) (Telegraphist, Supernumerary)
Flight Sergeant James Ian Brisbane Noble (36496) (Pilot)
Pilot Officer William Henry Osborne (411513) (Wireless Air Gunner)

References:

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 65

Bibliography:

Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992

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