LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Raymond Thomas TAPPING
Service No: 29489
Born: Narrogin WA, 5 January 1913
Enlisted in the RAAF: 18 December 1940
Unit: Headquarters Western Area, RAAF Station Pearce WA
Died: Vehicle Accident, near RAAF Station Pearce WA, 18 July 1946, Aged 33 Years
Buried: Karrakatta War Cemetery WA
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Randolph and Harriett Selina Tapping, of Narrogin; husband of Jean Ethelwyn Tapping, of Guildford.
Roll of Honour: Narrogin WA
Remembered: Panel 97, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cenotaph Undercroft, State War Memorial, Kings Park WA
1725 hrs. RAAF Tender 10755 driven by Leading Aircraftman Dudley William Long (84203) (Driver Motor Transport RAAF Station Pearce) with 14 passengers on duty run to Perth collided with G.M.C. Heavy tender 6 x 4 205740 towing mobile transmitter driven by Sergeant Ivan Turgener Duns (A31248) (Driver Motor Transport) Vehicle 10755 completely wrecked, slight damage to 205740.
Following personnel were killed outright: Corporal Charles Whitley Chester (3093) (Driver Motor Transport, No. 14 Aircraft Repair Depot), Leading Aircraftman Ross Allan Powell (41826) (F/Mechanic, No. 14 Aircraft Repair Depot, Pearce), Flight Sergeant Raymond Thomas Tapping (29489) (Clerk Accounts, HQ Western Area), Corporal Peter James Wall (29351) (Fitter 2A, No. 14 Aircraft Repair Depot, Pearce)
Slightly injured: 84748 Leading Aircraftman Peter Herbert Herkes (84748) (A.C.H, No. 14 Aircraft Repair Depot), Leading Aircraftman Christopher John Meldrum (38607) (F/Mechanic, No. 14 Aircraft Repair Depot), Leading Aircraftman Robert Bernard Sachse (85117) (F/Mechanic, No. 14 Aircraft Repair Depot), Leading Aircraftman Long (84203), Leading Aircraftman Harry Paterson Russell (85139) (Driver Motor Transport, RAAF Station Pearce), Flight Lieutenant Ross Vollprecht (252546) (Meteorologist, HQ Western Area)
Uninjured: Aircraftwoman Eleanor Edith Stewart (113366) (Clerk Accounts, RAAF Station Pearce), Sergeant John Jean Mount (4086) (Wireless Maintenance Mechanic, RAAF Station Pearce), Flight Sergeant Frederick Attwater (4143) (Clerk Accounts, RAAF Station Pearce), 29922 LAC Norman Leighton McAllister (29922) (Motor Trimmer, RAAF Station Pearce).
Heavy rain and bad visibility at the time of accident. The deceased were buried in the War Grave Cemetery, Karrakatta WA, on 22 July 1946
RAAF Station Pearce Operations Record Book A50 Entry dated 18 July 1946
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (Perth) On-Line Records
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/39/735