LEST WE FORGET

Flying Officer Francis Carstairs SANDERS

Service No: 416155
Born: North Adelaide SA, 20 July 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 March 1941
Unit: No. 3 Squadron, Iesi, Italy
Died: Air Operations (No. 3 Squadron Kittyhawk IV aircraft FX569), Castels Petro, Italy, 26 September 1944, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Faenza War Cemetery, Italy
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Francis Gordon Sanders and Elsie Madge Sanders, of Jamestown, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 98, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide

On the 26th September 1944, Kittyhawk FX569 was leading a formation of 6 aircraft detailed to bomb two heavy gun positions and then carry out an armed recce of roads from Rimini to Bologna and Ravenna, Italy. After bombing the gun positions, FX569 left the formation to strafe motor transport in Ravenna. Later the pilot gave radio instructions to the formation to continue towards Rimini. FX569 was not seen again and the Deputy Leader was unable to make further radio contact. FX569 did not return to base.

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, 166/37/554

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