LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Percy William Keith WALTER
Service No: 434485
Born: Brisbane QLD, 29 May 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 4 December 1942
Unit: No. 106 Squadron (RAF), RAF Metheringham, Lincolnshire
Died: Air Operations: (No. 106 Squadron Lancaster aircraft PB617), France, 5 January 1945, Aged 20 Years
Buried: St-Palais-sur-Mer Communal Cemetery, Charente-Maritime, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Henry Thomas Walter and Esme Dorothy Walter, of Albion Heights, Queensland. Australia
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 132, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Lancaster PB617 took off from RAF Metheringham at 0025 hours on the morning of 5 January 1945, detailed to bomb the German garrison dominating the entrance to the Gironde River, Royan, France. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. A Missing Research and Enquiry team report stated: “it was thought that the aircraft collided with No. 463 Squadron Lancaster PB 695 and crashed.” PB617 crashed at St-Palais-sur-Mer (Charente-Maritime), and all the crew members were killed.
The crew members of PB617 were:
Flying Officer Clyde Allen Cassidy (437495) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Peter Anthony Lane (1810413) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Flight Sergeant Charles Richard Mangnall (433733) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Flying Officer Vernon Douglas Powell (422982) (Air Bomber)
Flying Officer Bruce Thomas Roberts (432632) (Navigator)
Flying Officer Andrew Hawkins Scott (205850) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Percy William Keith Walter (434485) (Rear Gunner)
No. 463 Squadron lost Lancaster PB695 (Flying Officer Jack Milne (418292) (Pilot)) on 4 January 1945.
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, 166/43/1062