LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Noel Alexander WATT
Service No: 404223
Born: Yarraman QLD, 24 December 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 21 June 1940
Unit: No. 11 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 11 Squadron Blenheim aircraft Z7968), near Colombo, 15 March 1942, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Colombo (Kanatte) War Cemetery, Sri Lanka
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George Alexander and Fredrica Wilhelmina Watt, of Nanango, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Nanango QLD
Remembered: Panel 132, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 15 March 1942 Blenheim Z7968 along with other Squadron aircraft was detailed to find and attack 50 seaborne enemy aircraft which had been reported on the north-west coast of Ceylon. At 1415 hours Z7968 took off from aerodrome at Ratmalana near Colombo and immediately crashed as a result of engine failure on take-off. About half way along the runway the pilot cut in plus boost and the aircraft became airborne. At about 50 feet the starboard engine failed and in spite of efforts by the pilot to maintain control, the aircraft swung to the right and spun into coconut trees. The aircraft carried 4 x 250 lb (110 kg) bombs. The Pilot was killed, and the Air Gunner was dangerously injured and died of his injuries on the same day. The Observer was also badly injured in the accident.
The crew members of Z7968 were:
Sergeant Rex Dalrymple Stair (400196) (Observer) Badly injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 21 February 1946
Sergeant Noel Alexander Watt (404223) (Air Gunner) Fatally injured: Died: 15 March 1942
Sergeant Sydney William White (404191) (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 A9301, 404233