LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Ernest Henry Benjamin SAKER
Service No: 425224
Born: Bowen QLD, 22 July 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 January 1942
Unit: No. 1657 Conversion Unit (RAF), RAF Station Stradishall
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1657 Conversion Unit Stirling aircraft W7586), Stradishall, 22 July 1943, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Haverhill Cemetery, Suffolk
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Ernest William Barton Saker and Mary Catherine Saker, of Merinda, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Bowen QLD
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 31 July 1942 Flight Sergeant Saker was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident at Maryborough, Queensland, in which Leading Aircraftman John David Hamilton (425157) was killed.
On 22 July 1943, Stirling W7586 took off from Stradishall detailed to carry out practice circuits and landings. The starboard outer was feathered, and a normal three engined approach was being made. The aircraft overshot, and an attempt was made to go round again. The aircraft stalled and crashed at 1746 hours. All the crew members were killed.
The crew members of W7586 were:
Sergeant John Archibald Campbell (1690312) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant Richard George Kings (1185185) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Raymond Henry Murdock (R/128432) (RCAF) (Air Bomber)
Flying Officer Robert Henry Rutherford (133718) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Flight Sergeant Ernest Henry Benjamin Saker (425224) (Rear Gunner)
Pilot Officer Leonard Gerrard Sellars (409454) (Pilot)
Sergeant George Frank Albert Wix (1804500) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner)
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, 163/160/240