LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Henry Langtree Van ZUILECOM
Service No: 403774
Born: Katanning WA, 29 August 1940
Enlisted in the RAAF: 3 March 1941 (at Sydney NSW)
Unit: No. 247 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident: (No. 247 Squadron Typhoon aircraft JQ544), Sussex, 10 November 1943, Aged 33 Years
Cremated: Woking (St John’s) Crematorium, Surrey
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Herbert Dekenzinger Van Zuilecom and Muriel Eleanor Van Zuilecom, of Kojonup, Western Australia; husband of Beatrice Van Zuilecom. of Feltham, Middlesex
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 5, Woking (St John’s) Crematorium, Surrey
Remembered: Panel 131, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1448 hours on 10 November 1943 Typhoon JQ544 flown by Flying Officer Van Zuilecom on return from a Ramrod Sortie to Cape Gris Nez, France, crashed at Church Farm Lykinster, Sussex and he was killed. The aircraft crashed after the starboard bomb had fallen away. A Court of Inquiry into the accident concluded that: “from the evidence one of the bombs carried by the aircraft fell off and at approximately the same time the aircraft burst into flames in the air then travelled about three quarters of a mile and crashed. Half the witnesses say that the aircraft burst into flames before the bomb went off, and the other half say that the aircraft did not catch fire before he saw an upheaval on the ground. The Pilot flying behind JQ544 is certain the aircraft did not catch fire before he saw an upheaval on the ground. From available evidence it would appear that for reasons unknown a bomb fell from the aircraft, the blast from which caused the aircraft to turn on its back and set it alight.” The Wing Commander Commanding Officer of No. 247 Squadron stated: “it must be assumed that the starboard bomb fell off and the port bomb dropped off by the aircraft being in contact with the ground. The starboard bomb exploded and set fire to the aircraft, at the same time causing it to roll to the left and it hit the ground almost on its back.” The Air Commodore Group Commander stated “I agree with the remarks of the CO. I am of the opinion the aircraft was set on fire by the explosion of the bomb which for some reason fell off the aircraft.”
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, 166/42/48