LEST WE FORGET

Pilot Officer William John SHIRTCLIFFE

Service No: 400032
Born: Wellington, New Zealand, 12 May 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 29 April 1940 (at Melbourne VIC)
Unit: No. 11 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 11 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft L4276), Northamptonshire, 25 February 1941, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Bassingbourn cum Kneeworth Cemetery, Cambridgeshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Stanley and Norah Eshdale Shirtcliffe; husband of Evelyn Eliza Shirtcliffe, of Devonport, New Zealand
Roll of Honour: Melbourne VIC
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

On 25 February 1941Wellington L4276 took off from RAF Bassingbourn for a demonstration in stalling with flaps and undercarriage down and in a clean air configuration. At about 1440 hours the aircraft crashed out of control at Newham, 2 miles south south east of Daventry, Northamptonshire. All on board the aircraft were killed.

The crew members of L4276 were:

Aircraftman Class II Robert Johnson Atkinson (1213421) (RAFVR) (Supernumerary)
Sergeant Leo Frank De Roeck (905830) (RAFVR) (Third Pilot)
Aircraftman Class II Frederick Benjamin Holdstock (1223122) (RAFVR) (Supernumerary)
Flight Lieutenant Allen Fairhurst Riddlesworth DFC (39567) (RAF) (Pilot)
Pilot Officer William John Shirtcliffe (400032) (Second Pilot)

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 A9300, SHIRTCLIFFE W J

Book Now Book Now