LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Maxwell William Elliott PAUL
Service No: 400482
Born: Elsternwick VIC, 14 August 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 14 September 1940
Unit: No. 17 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 17 Operational Training Unit Blenheim aircraft V6324), North Sea, 12 October 1941, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Edgar Gordon Paul and Annie Paul, of Toorak, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Malvern VIC
Remembered: Panel 63, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 128, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 12 October 1941 Blenheim V6324 was flying in formation with two other aircraft. When approximately 60 miles out to sea east of Filey, Yorkshire, the rear gunner of one of the aircraft reported V6324 appeared to be in trouble emitting black smoke from an engine with the airscrew losing revolutions. The aircraft executed a wide movement and then returned to the formation flying above and behind. The aircraft then attempted to gain height, but as it turned the engine apparently stalled and V6324 dived into the sea. The other aircraft circled the position but no trace of wreckage or survivors was seen other than an oil patch. Air Sea Rescue boats and aircraft searched the area but nothing was found. It was later recorded that the missing crew members had lost their lives at sea.
The crew members of V6324 were:
Sergeant Edgar Antoine Hafner (1375622) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Sergeant Henry Blanchard Morgan (402451) (Observer)
Sergeant Maxwell William Elliott Paul (400482) (Pilot)
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, 163/149/116