LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant David Roderick STEWART
Service No: 405506
Born: Waikerie SA, 1 February 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 March 1941 (at Brisbane QLD)
Unit: No. 6 Service Flying Training School, Mallala SA
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 6 Service Flying Training School Anson aircraft W2435), near Cape Willoughby SA, 3 June 1942, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Benjamin Herbert and Emma Stewart, of Kalinga, Queensland
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 6, Sydney Memorial, Rookwood NSW
Remembered: Panel 117, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
The Light House keeper at Cape Willoughby, Kangaroo Island, reported that at about 1815 hours on the 3 June 1943, an aircraft flying low from the south east circled the Light House three or four times flashing a Morse lamp, and that it headed out to sea in a south east direction about 1835 hours. The aircraft alighted in the sea about 1907 hours and in response to a Morse lamp signal requesting what was required, replied -“Boat”. The Light House keeper had no boat. The aircraft was about half a mile south east of the Lighthouse and was drifting to the south was lost sight of about one mile south of the Tower. Extensive air and naval searches were conducted for the missing aircraft and crew but no trace was found. On 7 June 1942, the search was abandoned.
The crew members of W2435 were:
Sergeant Frederick Reginald Cassidy (6732) (Pilot)
Sergeant Kenneth Walter Hailey (405480) (Observer)
Leading Aircraftman Laurence Francis Pickup (413419) (Trainee Pilot)
Sergeant David Roderick Stewart (405506) (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 A9845, 163/163/389; A9845, 78