LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Harry Martyn RADCLIFFE
Service No: 407876
Born: Adelaide SA, 11 November 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 1 February 1941
Unit: No. 4 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit (RAF)
Died: Ground Accident, Scotland, 2 June 1944, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Stoneykirk Cemetery, Wigtownshire, Scotland
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Ernest Ware Radcliffe and Lucy Gwendoline Radcliffe, of Highbury, South Australia; husband of Nellie Jean Radcliffe, of Croydon, South Australia.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
On 2 June 1944, Pilot Officer Radcliffe, a staff Wireless Operator, was detailed to fly on a night navigation flight in Anson 9176. He had returned to the briefing room to collect his flying helmet and was walking back to his dispersal aircraft along the taxying track, when he was struck on the head by the port propeller of LV290, taxying in the same direction in which he was walking.
Anson LV290 was detailed to fly on a night navigation flight. Flight Sergeant Jacobs a staff Pilot in Anson LV290 was marshalled by torches from the dispersal point to the taxying lane. It was then indicated that he proceed to the taxying post. While taxying between the taxying lights at normal taxying speed, Pilot Officer Radcliffe appeared in front of the aircraft moving in the same direction as the aircraft. Jacobs shouted and at the same time swung the aircraft to the right. Pilot Officer Radcliffe also moved to the right and was hit by the port propeller resulting in the port engine stopping. The aircraft at the time had its navigation lights on and the downward identifying light.
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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/35/281