LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Jack Charleton TUCKER
Service No: 417433
Born: Port Pirie SA, 6 September 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 25 April 1942
Unit: No. 10 Operational Training Unit (RAF), RAF Abingdon, Berkshire
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 10 Operational Training Unit Whitley aircraft EB358), Cambridgeshire, 28 August 1943, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John and Priscilla Christina Tucker, of Ardrossan. South Australia
Roll of Honour: Ardrossan SA
Remembered: Panel 131, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Whitley EB358 took off from RAF Abingdon on 28th August 1943 for a night cross country training flight. It was strongly suspected that the aircraft exploded at about 0045 hours on 28th August 1943, scattering debris over a wide area some 3 kms south of Great Wilbraham and 8 kms east from the centre of Cambridge. All the crew members lost their lives.
The crew members of EB358 were:
Sergeant Harry Coupe (1530957) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Edward William Fitch (1632361) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant Ronald Fassnidge Higgs (1394458) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Hugh Millett Male (1577515) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Jack Charleton Tucker (417433) (Wireless Air Gunner)
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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/40/73