LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer William Harrington Davy STEWART DFM
Service No: 404117
Born: Duchess QLD, 2 December 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 May 1940
Unit: No. 15 Service Flying Training School (RAF)
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM), 23 December 1941
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 15 Service Flying Training School Oxford aircraft N6278), Shipton-on-Stour, 31 December 1941, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Kidlington Burial Ground, Kidlington, Oxfordshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Henry Harrington Stewart and Elizabeth Maud Stewart, of Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Townsville QLD
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
DFM Citation: “This airman has been employed as Captain of aircraft on operational flights since April 1941. Throughout he has displayed great thoroughness and determination in his attacks against important industrial targets, dock installations and shipping. Trained under the E.A.T.S., Stewart has proved himself to be an exceptionally skilful pilot.” (London Gazette 23 December 1941, page 16)
At 1130 hours on 31st December 1941, Pilot Officer Stewart was the pilot of Oxford N6278 which crashed when it struck a tree in a low flying accident. All on board the aircraft were killed.
The crew members of N6278 were:
Leading Aircraftman Graham John King (1332945) (RAFVR) (Pilot under training) Aged 19 Years
Leading Aircraftman James Charles Lambert (1332833) (RAFVR) (Pilot under training) Aged 18 Years
Pilot Officer William Harrington Davy Stewart DFM (404117) (Instructor 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 A705, 163/163 282