LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant James Walter SANDILANDS DFC
Service No: 402405
Born: Uralla NSW, 12 June 1912
Enlisted in the RAAF: 19 August 1940
Unit: No. 82 Squadron (RAF)
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 23 May 1944
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 82 Squadron Vengeance aircraft AN944), Bangladesh, 13 April 1944, Aged 31 Years
Buried: Chittagong War Cemetery, Bangladesh
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James Bruce Sandilands and Aline McLeod Sandilands, of Uralla, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Uralla NSW
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Brother of Flying Officer Geoffrey Bruce Hope Sandilands (421085) and of Sergeant John Douglas Sandilands (402613)
DFC Citation: Flight Lieutenant Sandilands has served with distinction in both the European and Far East theatres of war. While based in England he took part in attacks on enemy shipping and intruder operations and was credited with the destruction of one enemy merchant vessel. In March
1942, this officer was captain of a Blenheim aircraft, which, in very adverse weather, kept a rendezvous with an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean and successfully navigated some Spitfires to Malta. During the last eight months, Flight Lieutenant Sandilands has completed a large number of bombing sorties against the Japanese, leading his Squadron on fifteen of these attacks. By his excellent leadership, fearlessness and determination in pressing home attacks, Flight Lieutenant Sandilands has contributed greatly to the success of the squadron. (London Gazette 23 May 1944, page 2350) Flight Lieutenant Sandilands had carried out about 130 sorties against the enemy.
On 13 April 1944 Vultee Vengeance AN810 was detailed to carry out an experimental shallow dive practice bombing using bombs, in an effort to determine the best angle of dive for use in a forthcoming operation. The aircraft took off at 1240 hours and after a preparatory circuit it went into a 70 degree dive from a height of 3,000 feet with the dive brakes out. AN810 started to pull out at about 600 feet but ‘mushed’ downwards and hit the ground at one end of the airfield. The aircraft burst into flames on impact and was totally destroyed killing both on board.
The crew members of AN810 were:
Flight Lieutenant James Walter Sandilands DFC (402405) (Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman Thomas George Wootton (936154) (RAFVR) (Fitter II Engines) (Supernumerary)
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, 166/37/375