LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Herbert Thomas TANSER
Service No: 411549
Born: Katoomba NSW, 28 October 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 May 1941
Unit: No. 2 Operational Training Unit
Died: Aircraft accident (No. 2 Operational Training Unit Spitfire aircraft Capstan BS222), Lake Victoria, 19 January 1943, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Mildura Public Cemetery, Victoria
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Herbert Alfred and Ethel Anna Tanser, of Manly, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Katoomba NSW
Remembered: Panel 113, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1415 hours on the 19 January 1943, Capstan BS222 flown by Sergeant Tanser took off detailed to carry out a shadow shooting exercise at Lake Victoria. While carrying out the exercise, the aircraft was seen to dive into the lake and crash at approximately 1440 hours and Sergeant Tanser was killed. The water was about 25 feet deep and dragging operations commenced with his body recovered on 23 January.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/39/11; A9845, 273