LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Richard Stuart PATTERSON
Service No: 409228
Born: Wannon VIC, 21 October 1909
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 July 1941
Unit: No. 1 Operational Training Unit, Bairnsdale VIC
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Operational Training Unit Beaufort aircraft A9-67), Bass Strait, 11 January 1943, Aged 33 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Hugh and Grangie Stuart Patterson, of Casterton, Victoria
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 5, Sydney Memorial, Rookwood NSW
Remembered: Panel 112, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Beaufort A9-67 went missing in Bass Strait between 0733 and 1622 hours on 11 January 1943 while on an operational training exercise originating from Bairnsdale, Victoria. The crew members of A9-67 were:
Sergeant Norman John Long (411793) (Pilot)
Sergeant Norman Neil MacKay (413644) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Richard Stuart Patterson (409228) (Observer)
Sergeant Allen Ralph Simpson (417004) (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, 242
Bibliography:
Ilbery, P.L.T. (Peter Leslie Thomas) (422957) Hatching an Air Force: 2SFTS, 5SFTS, 1BFTS Uranquinty and Wagga Wagga, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4650, 2002
Lax, M. (Mark) (editor) Always Ready: a history of RAAF East Sale, RAAF Publications Unit Melbourne VIC, 1993
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1990