LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Kenneth John TRASK
Service No: 409347
Born: Melbourne VIC, 29 October 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 15 August 1941
Unit: No. 231 Squadron (RAF) RAF Station Redhill, Surrey
Died: Air Operations: (No. 231 Squadron Mustang aircraft AG547), France, 11 November 1943, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Laval (Valfleury) Communal Cemetery, Mayenne, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Albert Oswald and Claudia Adair Trask, of Camberwell, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Ballarat VIC
Remembered: Panel 131, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 0930 hours on 11 November 1943 Mustang AG547 took off from Redhill flying as No. 2 to Flying Officer Panitaki as No. 1. They were detailed to carry out a “Rhubarb” in the Le Havre area. The French coast was crossed at Pte De La Perce and a southerly course maintained until reaching Montain, when the railway was followed in an easterly direction.
At Dompront and Cautenne No. 1 estimated that the cloud base was about 1,000 feet above ground level and decreasing very slightly as higher ground approached. On reaching higher ground, No. 1 flying a little ahead of No. 2, encountered 10/10ths cloud and rain, and immediately called his No. 2 to climb. No. 2 replied he was climbing but could not see No 1. No 1 called again and instructed No. 2 to climb to 7,000 feet on a course of 270 degrees. No 1 replied climbing to 7,000 and on correct course. No 1 continued to climb and when it became apparent that the operation would have to be abandoned due to cloud, No. 1 instructed No. 2 to turn on to a course of 360 degrees and return to base. No. 2 did not reply to this message. As No. 1 did not receive any reply he continued on his original course of 270 degrees, and called No. 2 at regular intervals. Nothing was heard from No 2. On breaking cloud at 7000 feet, No. 1 circled for about 15 minutes calling No. 2. After this the Controlling radio station contacted No. 1 asking if he knew his position, and if No. 2 was with him. No. 1 then requested Control to try and contact No 2 and asked for a fix. No 1 then returned to based and landed at 1122 hours. Mustang AG547 failed to return to base and it was later learned that Flying Officer Trask had been killed.
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, 166/40/63