LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Oswald George SHARPE
Service No: 403959
Born: Gerringong NSW, 29 March 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 21 March 1941
Unit: No. 25 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 25 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft DV829), Germany, 1 August 1942, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Rheinberg War Cemetery, Kamp Lintfort, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Oswald George and Ruby Mary Sharpe, of Gerringong, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Gerringong NSW
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Soldiers Memorial Hall, Gerringong NSW
At 2349 hours on 31 July 1942, Wellington DV829 took off from RAF Finningley to attack Dusseldorf, Germany. The aircraft was coned at 9,000 feet by searchlights and soon after hit by anti-aircraft fire. While trying to escape from the beam, the bomber lost height and while partially out of control, flew into a pylon and crashed. Four of the crew members were killed and one was taken prisoner.
The crew members of DV829 were:
Sergeant James Ross Campbell (1335833) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer C J Frith (48667) (RAF) (Pilot) PoW
Sergeant Charles Henry Moody (1383719) (RAFVR) (Observer)
Sergeant Gordon Craig Padkin (776139) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Oswald George Sharpe (403959) (Wireless Air 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, 163/161/255
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line