LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant John Thomas SUTHERLAND
Service No: 421474
Born: Culcairn NSW, 6 April 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 1 February 1942
Unit: No. 10 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 10 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit Anson aircraft DJ239), Cumberland, 31 May 1943, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Silloth (Causeway Head) Cemetery, Holme Low, Cumberland
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Bain Sutherland and Hilda Sutherland, of Culcairn, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Culcairn NSW
Remembered: Panel 131, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 31 May 1943, Anson DJ239 and No. 18 Maintenance Unit Wellington HZ637 collided in mid-air, and DJ239 crashed east of Maryport, Cumberland. All on both aircraft were killed.
The crew members of DJ239 were:
Sergeant Michael Henry Cornell (R/114951) (RCAF) (Navigator)
Sergeant Thomas Green (1027819) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Alexander Iver MacRae (J/16366) (RCAF) (Pilot)
Sergeant John Thomas Sutherland (421474) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Geoffrey Basil Temple Wymer (1382991) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
On board Wellington HZ637 were:
Flight Lieutenant William John Calver (RAF) (44751) (Pilot)
Mr John Charles Gurdler, Aged 21 Years (Civilian)
Mr Charles Pearson Neave, Aged 43 Years (Civilian)
Mr Adam Welsh (Civilian)
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, 166/38/163