LEST WE FORGET
Warrant Officer Gordon Keith PASCOE
Service No: 437156
Born: Kings Park SA, 27 October 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 7 November 1942
Unit: No. 148 Squadron (RAF), Brindisi, Italy
Died: Injuries from Air Operations (loss of No. 148 Squadron Halifax aircraft JP209 in Yugoslavia on 14 February 1944), Italy, 12 May 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Bari War Cemetery, Italy
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Ernest Arthur and Mary Annie Pascoe, of Westbourne Park, South Australia.
Roll of Honour: Adelaide SA
Remembered: Panel 128, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Halifax JP209 took off on 14 February 1944, detailed to carry out a day supply dropping mission in Northern Yugoslavia. The aircraft crash landed on the target at 43.35.10 N and 017.10.10 E and all the crew were reported safe, although Warrant Officer Pascoe was reported as slightly wounded. All the crew were evacuated safely to allied territory. Warrant Officer Pascoe was hospitalised, and on 17 March 1944 was placed on the dangerously ill list as he had wounds in his chest and had been operated on twice. He also had a fever. He died of his injuries on 12 May 1944.
The crew members of JP209 were:
Sergeant K Dentoi (1235044) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant A F Ellis (3006385) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant P Lee (1605044) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Warrant Officer Gordon Keith Pascoe (437156) (Wireless Operator Air)
Flight Sergeant R E W Roberts (576001) (RAF) (Flight Engineer)
Lieutenant V Vincent (944992) (SAAF) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant E C Wilkinson (1494021) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/32/670