LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Keith Robert SELF
Service No: 425367
Born: Townsville QLD, 13 February 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 1 February 1942
Unit: No. 34 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 34 Operational Training Unit Ventura aircraft), Nova Scotia, 23 April 1943, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Yarmouth Mountain Cemetery, Nova Scotia
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Alfred Frederick and Ellen Annie Self, of Gaythorne, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 133, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At approximately 0900 hours on 23 April 1944, a No. 34 Operational Training Unit Ventura aircraft took off from Yarmouth detailed to carry out a day cross-country flight. After about an hour the Wireless Operator radioed that the aircraft had engine trouble and that the pilot was making a forced landing near Springhaven, Nova Scotia. A fire tender and ambulance were despatched to the scene and on arrival found the aircraft had crashed and three crew members were dead.
The Ventura crew members were:
Sergeant Kenneth George Calvert (R/147798) (RCAF) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant John Edward Franckeiss (1525643) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant Keith Robert Self (425367) (Observer)
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, 166/37/112