LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant John Bradford WATTS
Service No: 419978
Born: Richmond VIC, 9 February 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 9 October 1942
Unit: No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School (RCAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School Anson aircraft 6086), Ontario, 3 July 1944, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Jarvis (Knox Presbyterian Church) Cemetery, Ontario, Canada
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edward John and Alice Mary Watts, of Burwood, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Camberwell VIC
Remembered: Panel 133, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 3 July 1944, Anson 6086 took off from RCAF Jarvis, on a bombing training flight, and crashed at approximately 0110 hours six miles north west of the aerodrome. The aircraft dropped a flare at low altitude, then crashed and burned. All three on board were killed.
The crew members of 6086 were:
Leading Aircraftman Gordon Cooper Best (1590496) (RAFVR) (Trainee Air Gunner)
Leading Aircraftman Robert Waller (1097101) (RAFVR) (Trainee Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant John Bradford Watts (419978) (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, 166/43/744