LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Murray Percival THORBURN
Service No: 430588
Born: Albury NSW, 11 February 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 27 January 1943 (at Melbourne VIC)
Unit: No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School, Benalla VIC
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School Tiger Moth aircraft A17-144), near Benalla VIC, 20 October 1943, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Benalla War Cemetery VIC
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Percival and Eileen Marjorie Thorburn, of Walwa
Roll of Honour: Walwa VIC
Remembered: Panel 117, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Lockhart and District War Memorial, Lockhart NSW
At 0910 hours on 20 October 1943, Tiger Moth A17-144 flown solo by Leading Aircraftman Thorburn crashed ten miles west of Benalla aerodrome and he was killed. The aircraft was on a day flying exercise when it dived into the ground.
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, 166/39/152; A9845, 36
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line