LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Frank Lawrence PARTON
Service No: 32589
Born: Tamworth NSW, 28 December 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 23 July 1940
Unit: No. 5 Squadron
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 5 Squadron Wirraway aircraft A20-289), Mareeba QLD, 12 June 1943, Aged 27 Years
Buried: Atherton War Cemetery QLD
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James Farmer Parton and Elsie Frances Parton; husband of Ethel Parton, of Penshurst, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Penshurst NSW
Remembered: Panel 99, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Hurstville War Memorial, Hurstville NSW
On the 12 June 1943, Wirraway A20-289 was on a non-operational practice with ground light anti-aircraft airfield defences, at Mareeba, Queensland. The aircraft was seen to dive towards one of the guns, climb steeply, and commence a steep climbing turn about 600 feet from the ground. The aircraft appeared to stall, commence to spin and just as recovery was effected, it hit the ground at 1105 hours and both the crew members were killed.
Sergeant Gordon Francis Blanch (420827) (Navigator)
Pilot Officer Frank Lawrence Parton (32589) (Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/32/126; A9845, 110
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line