LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant Richard Henry ROE DFC
Service No: 400488
Born: Benalla VIC, 2 August 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 14 September 1940
Unit: No. 1 Aircraft Depot, RAAF Station Laverton VIC
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 19 October 1943 (Citation Title: No. 30 Squadron)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Aircraft Deport Vengeance aircraft A27-76), North Melbourne VIC, 4 March 1943, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Springvale War Cemetery, Melbourne VIC
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Cyril Melbourne Roe and Jennie Roe, of Benalla
Roll of Honour: Benalla VIC
Remembered: Panel 113, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1533 hours on 4 March 1943, Vultee Vengeance A27-76 crashed into a factory in McCauley Street, North Melbourne, when carrying out manoeuvres during a public display and both crew members were killed. No one on the ground was injured and an inquest considered that the low flying roll preceding the crash may have been in contravention of orders.
The crew members of A27-76 were:
Pilot Officer James Noel Harris (400432) (Wireless Operator)
Flight Lieutenant Richard Henry Roe DFC (400488) (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, 166/36/4