LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Baxter WATSON
Service No: 411417
Born: Sydney NSW, 26 June 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 28 April 1941
Unit: No. 6 Service Flying Training School, Mallala SA
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 2 Air Observers School Anson aircraft AW849), near Tantanoola SA, 14 October 1942, Aged 27 Years
Buried: French’s Forest General Cemetery, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George Baxter and Ethel Watson; husband of Elaine Maude Watson, of Manly
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 117, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Manly ANZAC War Memorial, Manly NSW
On 14 October 1942, Anson AW849 was returning from an over the sea operational flight when it crashed and burnt at 2115 hours, five miles west of Tantanoola, South Australia. The aircraft belonged to No. 2 Air Observers School, Mount Gambier, and the crew were from No. 6 Service Flying Training School. AW849 was engaged in a search following a report of an enemy submarine, but due to errors in navigation during the flight, the aircraft crashed through lack of fuel and Flying Officer Baxter was killed.
The crew members of AW849 were:
Sergeant Richard Leonidas Ayres (409014) (Wireless Air Gunner) Baled out but injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 9 January 1946
Sergeant John Harding Carroll DFC (416243) (Observer) Baled out safe, Discharged from the RAAF: 28 November 1945
Flying Officer Baxter Watson (411417) (Pilot)
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, 163/63/186
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line