LEST WE FORGET

Pilot Officer Keith Ernest SPARGO

Service No: 418016
Born: Merbein VIC, 29 October 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 April 1942
Unit: No. 82 Squadron
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 82 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-56), near Bankstown NSW, 14 July 1943, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Sydney War Cemetery, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Dr. E. Spargo and Mrs. Spargo, of Merbein, Victoria
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

At 1200 hours on 14 July 1943, Kittyhawk A29-56 crashed half a mile east of the Bankstown airstrip while returning from a training flight. The accident occurred when the aircraft was approaching the aerodrome on its return. It was losing height in the cross wind leg, and the pilot did not complete his last turn on to the aerodrome, but half a mile on the eastward side. An examination of the wreckage found that the petrol cock was on to reserve tank. It was assumed that Pilot Officer Spargo forgot to change tanks and ran out of petrol on his cross wind leg on his approach and crashed.

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, 166/38/202

Book Now Book Now