LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant John Edward WALDEN
Service No: 425386
Born: Burketown QLD, 22 August 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 1 February 1942
Unit: No. 61 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Syerston
Died: Air Operations: (No. 61 Squadron Lancaster aircraft W5002), France, 15 August 1943, Aged 27 Years
Buried: Rugles Communal Cemetery, Eure, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Robert John and Kathaleen Annie Walden, of Woombye, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Woombye QLD
Remembered: Panel 131, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 2029 hours on the night of 15 August 1943 Lancaster W5002 took off from Syerston detailed to bomb Milan, Italy. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it failed to return to base. The aircraft was shot down and six of the crew were killed and one evaded capture.
The crew members of W5002 were:
Sergeant Gordon Arthur Angwin (1386110) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Kenneth Thomas Brentnall (1477508) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Flying Officer Tom Downing (131604) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant James John Griffin (1153700) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Pilot Officer Conrad Larnach (149693) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant P V Matthews (658607) (RAFVR) (Pilot) Evaded capture
Flight Sergeant John Edward Walden (425386) (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant Matthews who returned safe to the UK in January 1944 reported “The aircraft was crossing the coast on the outward journey when we were attacked without warning by a night fighter. The aircraft was on fire and flames enveloped the cockpit cutting off communication with the rest of the crew. I gave the order to abandon. I baled out through a window of the plane and lost consciousness only recovering when I hit the ground. I was lying in a field near Rugles about 25 miles south south west of Evreux and the aircraft was burning 400 yards away.”
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, 166/43/298