LEST WE FORGET

Warrant Officer Bernard Michael PRITCHARD

Service No: 413660
Born: Flemington NSW, 18 June 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 12 September 1941
Unit: No. 60 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Ground Operations: (following the loss of No. 60 Squadron Hurricane aircraft LD303), India, 29 April 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Imphal War Cemetery, India
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George Albert and Nanona Pritchard, of Tottenham New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Nyngan NSW
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Nyngan and District War Memorial, Nyngan NSW

On 29 April 1944 Hurricane LD303 accompanied by other aircraft from the Squadron took off to provide Army close support and bomb and strafe enemy positions on the Palel Tamu road at Tenguopal. LD303 was seen to dive almost vertically from 7/8,000 feet to the ground and burst into flames in the target area in position 24.21N 094.08E. A parachute was seen descending and the other aircraft circled. The Pilot was alive and apparently unhurt, and he was covered while getting away from his parachute on the ground and when last seen he was endeavouring to return to British lines. Unfortunately he was killed at dawn by a Ghurka patrol who mistook him for a member of the Japanese forces.

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, 166/35/159
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line

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