LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Vincent Martin PURKISS
Service No: 432972
Born: Armidale NSW, 12 July 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 30 January 1943
Unit: No. 1 Service Flying Training School, RAAF Station Point Cook VIC
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Service Flying Training School Oxford aircraft SN271), near Point Cook, 13 September 1943, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Springvale War Cemetery, Melbourne VIC
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Charles and Rita Victoria Purkiss, of Armidale, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Armidale NSW
Remembered: Panel 116, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Armidale Dumaresq Council War Memorial Library, Armidale NSW
Remembered: University of Sydney World War 2 Roll of Honour, Camperdown NSW
At 1155 hours on 13 September 1943, Oxfords AS615 and SN271 collided in full flight and crashed at Salt Lake, half a mile north east of the Point Cook aerodrome and both crews were killed in the accident.
The crew members of SN271 were:
Leading Aircraftman Noel James Harper (430167) (Trainee Solo Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman Vincent Martin Purkiss (432972) (Trainee Solo Pilot, Supernumerary)
The pilot of AS615 was:
Leading Aircraftman John Henry Friday (19923) (Trainee Solo 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, 166/33/71; A9845, 177
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line