LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Bruce William RICHARDS
Service No: 416007
Born: Adelaide SA, 1 July 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 1 March 1941
Unit: No. 27 Operational Training Unit (RAF), RAF Lichfield, Staffordshire
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 27 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft P9285), North Sea, 16 July 1942, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Alfred Samuel and Ada Lily Richards, of Kensington Gardens, South Australia.
Roll of Honour: Adelaide SA
Remembered: Panel 113, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Wellington P9285 of No 27 Operational Training took off from RAF Lichfield, at 1043 hours on 16 July 1942 to carry out a cross country training exercise. The route was RAF Lichfield – Bassingbourne – Church Fenton – Flamborough Head – 54 deg north 02 deg east – 53 deg north 02 deg east – Finningley – Base. There was nil air firing involved, but 15 x 11.5 lb (pound) (5 kg) smoke bombs were carried. The weather was fair with 5 tenths cloud at 2000 feet and visibility moderate. The aircraft was due back at 1630 hours. At 1230 hours the RDF plot on P9285 faded out, and the aircraft did not return to base from the exercise. There were four other aircraft on the same exercise and they struck no adverse weather on the trip.
The crew members of P9285 were:
Sergeant James Alexander Alcorn (407886) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant William Buntin Barr (1062414) (RAFVR) (Observer / Bomb Aimer)
Sergeant Ronald Brooke (1378129) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Derek Stanley Large (1177034) (RAFVR) (Observer)
Sergeant Bruce William Richards (416007) (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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/157/175