LEST WE FORGET

Flying Officer Jack Worrall ROCHE

Service No: 402191
Born: Melbourne VIC, 21 March 1913
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 June 1940 (at Sydney NSW)
Unit: No. 254 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Dyce
Died: Air Operations: (No. 254 Squadron Blenheim aircraft Z6184), Norway, 27 December 1941, Aged 29 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Francis Browne Roche and Adelaide Maude Roche, of Elwood, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Brighton VIC
Remembered: Panel 62, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

On air operations on 27 December 1941 Blenheim Z6184 was observed by other aircraft being attacked by two Me109s over the Vaagso Island off the coast of Norway at approximately 2145 hours. The starboard engine was on fire, Z6184 lost height and was last seen disappearing over a ridge of the fiord opposite Vaagso Island. Explosions were then heard and a column of black seen from behind the ridge. The body of one crew members was recovered and it was later recorded that the remaining two crew members had lost their lives at sea.

The crew members of Z6184 were:

Pilot Officer Donald Addie Halsall (62669) (RAFVR) Remains recovered
Flying Officer Jack Worrall Roche (402191) (Pilot)
Sergeant Frederick Henry Silk (634877) (RAF)

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, 163/55/151

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