LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Charles TAGGART
Service No: 402929
Born: Balmain NSW, 19 March 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 11 November 1940
Unit: No. 1 Bomb Aiming and Gunnery School (RCAF), Jarvis, Ontario
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School Fairey Battle 1803), Ontario, 6 July 1941, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Jarvis (Knox Presbyterian Church) Cemetery, Ontario, Canada
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James and Annie Taggart, of Harbord, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Harbord NSW, Manly NSW
Remembered: Panel 133, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Manly ANZAC War Memorial, Manly NSW
On 6 July 1941, Fairey Battle 1803 from RCAF Jarvis, Ontario, was on a routine camera gun exercise accompanied by another Battle. At an altitude of approximately 3,400 feet volumes of black smoke were seen coming from Battle 1803. The Pilot, Flying Officer Moore was seen by the other aircraft to be making frantic efforts to convey some message through his speaking tube to McNabb. Flying Officer Moore continued to make these efforts down to 2,200 feet. At this height he baled out, landed in a tree and was rescued by civilians. He was considerably burnt on the face and arms. McNabb and Taggart never left the aircraft although they wore chutes. It was considered that they were probably overcome by fumes. The aircraft struck the ground and burnt and the two on board were killed.
The crew members of Fairey Battle 1803 were:
Leading Aircraftman Ray McNabb (402925) (Trainee Air Gunner)
Flying Officer H A Moore (RCAF) (Pilot) Injured
Leading Aircraftman Charles Taggart (402929) (Trainee 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 A705, 163/165/45
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line