LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Richard Easthope RASMUSSEN
Service No: 414512
Born: Gympie QLD, 17 August 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 11 October 1941
Unit: No 210 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 210 Squadron Catalina aircraft FP287), Dorset, 24 August 1943, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Richard Neil Rasmussen and Frances Mary Rasmussen of Gympie, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Gympie QLD
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 24 August 1943 Catalina FP287 crashed at Long Island Poole Harbour, Dorset, while on a non-operational training flight. The aircraft overshot the landing path and was attempting to go around again when the aircraft flew into sea fog at the end of the flare path and crashed. Eight on board were killed and four were injured.
The crew members of FP287 were:
Pilot Officer D C Ahmed (133605) (RAFVR) (Second Pilot) Injured
Sergeant Alan Brian Allen (577604) (RAFVR) (Second Wireless Operator)
Flying Officer Melville David Cohen (117812) (RAFVR) (First Wireless Operator)
Sergeant Michael Macannon Doyle (1135195) (RAFVR) (First Fitter/Flight Engineer)
Flying Officer Peter Rutherford Duff (80393) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant W Eley (1168444) (RAFVR) (Second Fitter) Injured
Sergeant Frank Frogson (1538347) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant J Garnett (1390283) (RAFVR) (Third Pilot) Injured
Sergeant Geoffrey Harper (1079414) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant R J Kingston (131977) (RAFVR) (Third Wireless Operator) Injured
Flight Lieutenant William Arthur Hobson (C/2229) (RCAF) (Supernumerary Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Richard Easthope Rasmussen (414512) (Observer)
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 705, 166/35/132