LEST WE FORGET

Flight Sergeant Eric Hempel SHERMAN

Service No: 410739
Born: Stanhope VIC, 10 August 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 January 1942
Unit: No. 18 Operational Training Unit (RAF), Satellite airfield RAF Station Finningley
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 18 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft X3800), Yorkshire, 2 August 1943, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Finningley (Holy Trinity and St Oswald) Churchyard Extension, Nottinghamshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Leonard John and Anna Clarin Sherman, of Stanhope, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Stanhope VIC
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

On 2 August 1943, Wellington X3800 took off on a non-operational day training flight and crashed at 1530 hours at Wroot, Yorkshire. All on board were killed. The Pilot was detailed to carry out solo single engine flying practice without feathering. A Flying accident report stated: “While no reliable evidence was available as to the cause of the accident, it was presumed that the Pilot lost control and the aircraft went into a steep spiral dive and was unable to pull out in time.”

The crew members of X3800 were:

Sergeant Leslie Albert Charlton (133575) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant John William Perry (1439469) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Eric Hempel Sherman (410739) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Ronald Henry Smith (1575673) (RAFVR) (Navigator)

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, 166/37/163

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