LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman John Alfred SPENCER
Service No: 413272
Born: Croydon Park NSW, 30 May 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 16 August 1941
Unit: No. 1 Air Observers School, Cootamundra NSW
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Air Observers School Anson aircraft AW677), near Ungarie NSW, 11 February 1942, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Cootamundra General Cemetery, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Thomas Henry and Caroline Ellen Spencer, of Russell Lea
Roll of Honour: Drummoyne NSW
Remembered: Panel 117, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Five Dock War Memorial, Five Dock NSW
Remembered: Tobruk Reserve Memorial, Waterloo NSW
At around 1600 hours on 11 February 1942 Avro Anson AW677 crashed about 20 kms north west of Ungarie, New South Wales and all five crew members were killed. The cause of the accident is unknown. The crew members of AW667 were:
Aircraftman Class 1 Roy Eric Farnsworth (35439) (Wireless Operator)
Leading Aircraftman Henry Heath Fisher (411764) (Trainee Observer)
Leading Aircraftman Arthur Didrik Kendall (414356) (Trainee Observer)
Leading Aircraftman John Alfred Spencer (413272) (Trainee Observer)
Pilot Officer Robert Clark Wesley-Smith (407258) (Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 59
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992