LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Sven Robert POLGREEN
Service No: 416282
Born: Normanville SA, 17 November 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 28 April 1941
Unit: No. 3 Air Observers School, Port Pirie SA
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 3 Air Observers School Anson aircraft MG217), Port Pirie SA, 31 December 1944, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Port Pirie General Cemetery, SA
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Olga Victoria Polgreen, of Croydon Park
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 1050 hours on 31 December 1944, Avro Anson MG217 crashed 4 kms north of the Port Pirie airfield. The port mainplane sheared away outboard of the port engine nacelle, likely as the result of excessive loading during a turn manoeuvre. The crew members of MG217 were:
Leading Aircraftman Lawrence Gordon Campbell (435332) (Trainee Observer)
Flight Sergeant Mervyn John Kinsman (441283) (Pilot) Seriously injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 16 October 1945
Leading Aircraftman Robert Bruce McCallum (438964) (Trainee Observer)
Flying Officer Sven Robert Polgreen (416282) (Observer 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, 66
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992