LEST WE FORGET
Corporal Herman Fred SASS
Service No: 2560
Born: Perth WA, 7 December 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 25 January 1937 (at RAAF Station Laverton VIC)
Unit: No. 14 Squadron, RAAF Station Pearce WA
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 14 Squadron Anson aircraft A4-4) Mount Torbreck VIC, 16 May 1940, Aged 23 Years
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Ferdinand Herman Hans and Linda Margareta Sass; husband of Daphne Sass, of South Perth
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Accident Site at Mount Torbreck
Remembered: Perth (Karrakatta) Crematorium, WA
Remembered: Panel 100, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Anson Aircraft A4-4 allotted to RAAF CAMDEN lost in an unknown area in Victoria enroute from POINT COOK to CAMDEN. The crew members were:
Flying Officer Anthony Ashby Daniel (243) Pilot
Corporal Francis Etienne Hyland (3515) Fitter
Corporal Herman Fred Sass (2560) Fitter
Corporal Ivan Lapen Stowdor (2474) Wireless Telegraph Operator
No. 14 Squadron Operations Record Book A50 Entry dated 16 May 1940
Crew of missing Anson A4-4 presumed dead and struck strength.
No. 14 Squadron Operations Record Book A50 Entry dated 6 September 1940
The wreckage was not discovered on Mount Torbreck in Victoria until January 1941. This event is the first fatal aviation accident suffered by a WA-based RAAF Unit.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (Perth) On-Line Records
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/37/367
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992