LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Colin James SAISELL
Service No: 420063
Born: Belmore NSW, 15 December 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 10 October 1941
Unit: No. 34 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 34 Squadron Hurricane aircraft LE643), Myanmar, 20 April 1945, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George Henry and Mary Frances Saisell, of Enfield, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Enfield NSW
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 20 February 1945 Hurricane LE643 was engaged in the day bombing of enemy targets at Nyaunglebin, Burma. The aircraft failed to pull out of dive and was seen to hit the ground and burst into flames at position 21.50N 095.35E. The Pilot was not seen to bale out.
LE643 was detailed to fly White No 1 in a formation of six aircraft. At the briefing instruction were given that should the Flight Commander (Red 1) for any reason be unable to continue to lead the formation, Pilot Officer Saisell in White No 1 was to take over. Over the target Red 1 developed radio trouble and ordered Saisell to take over. Consequently Pilot Officer Saisell in LE643 was the first to bomb the target. The aircraft made its bombing run from 3,000 feet and after dropping its bombs made an attempt to pull out of the dive somewhere between 100 and 200 feet. The aircraft failed to do so and crashed about 600 yards from the target.
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, 166/37/959