LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Maxwell John PEARCE
Service No: 416454
Born: Jamestown SA, 29 May 1911
Enlisted in the RAAF: 23 June 1941
Unit: No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Parafield SA
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School Tiger Moth aircraft A17-419), near Parafield, 10 December 1942, Aged 31 Years
Buried: Salisbury (St John’s) Church Cemetery, Salisbury SA
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Frederick William and Elizabeth Pearce; husband of Joan Shirley Pearce, of West Melbourne, Victoria
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 116, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
At 1215 hours on 10 December 1942, Tiger Moth A17-419 crashed after a blind takeoff from a satellite airfield near Parafield. Pilot Officer Pearce was critically injured and later died. The crew members of A17-419 were:
Leading Aircraftman (later Flying Officer) Victor Cecil Austen (418733) (Student) Slightly injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 1 July 1947
Pilot Officer Maxwell John Pearce (416454) (Instructor)
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, 14