LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant Douglas Henry Frederick PITT
Service No: 408023
Born: Hobart TAS, 19 July 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 June 1940
Unit: No. 51 Operational Training Unit (RAF), Advanced Training Squadron, RAF Station Twinwoods Farm, Bedfordshire
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 51 Operational Training Unit Beaufighter aircraft R2139), Bedfordshire, 21 January 1944, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Joshua John and Victoire Marian Pitt, of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Roll of Honour: Hobart TAS
Remembered: Panel 128, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 0730 hours on 21 January 1944, Beaufighter R2139 took off from RAF Station Twinwood Farm for RAF Station Cranfield. The aircraft made a slightly low approach and appeared to be throttled back to make an almost normal touch down. About 300 yards short of the runway, the aircraft struck a truck housing the Beam Approach Inner Marker and came to rest 100 yards further on. The Pilot received severe head injuries and the Navigator some facial injuries.
The crew members of R2139 were:
Flying Officer Jervis John Owen (422676) (Navigator) Injured, Killed in an Aircraft Accident: 22 April 1944
Flight Lieutenant Douglas Henry Frederick Pitt (408023) (Pilot) Fatally injured
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, 166/32/287
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