LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Harold Vivian THOMPSON
Service No: 421946
Born: Cootamundra NSW, 20 August 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 April 1942
Unit: No. 5 Service Flying Training School, Uranquinty NSW
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 5 Service Flying Training School Wirraway aircraft A20-68), near Yanco NSW, 8 March 1943, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Narrandera War Cemetery, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Lindsay Harold and Lillian Violet Thompson, of Brawlin
Roll of Honour: Cootamundra NSW
Remembered: Panel 117, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cootamundra War Memorial, Cootamundra NSW
Remembered: Cootamundra Ex-Servicemen’s and Citizens Memorial Club Rolls of Honour, Cootamundra NSW
On 8 March 1943, Wirraways A20-602 and A20-68 collided in mid-air while on unauthorised low flying and both trainee Pilots were killed. The aircraft crashed at Banandera, 15 miles west of Yanco at 1730 hours. The pilots had been authorised to carry out a solo cross-country flight individually, with A20-68 taking off at 1620 hours and A20-602 at 1625 hours. Eye witnesses said that the two aircraft were flying in close proximity with each other, when the pilot of A20-602 executed a beam attack on A20-68 misjudged his close speed and caused the collision.
The Pilots were:
Leading Aircraftman Harold Vivian Thompson (421946) (Trainee Pilot) Wirraway A20-68
Leading Aircraftman Roy Cameron Walker (418587) (Trainee Pilot) Wirraway A20-602
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, 166/39/34; A9845, 173
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line