LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Vivian Arthur WESTCOTT
Service No: 419980
Born: Preston VIC, 23 August 1911
Enlisted in the RAAF: 9 October 1942
Unit: No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, West Sale VIC
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School Oxford aircraft BM711), off Seaspray VIC, 10 May 1943, Aged 31 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Charles Vivian and Alice Edith Westcott, of Preston, Victoria
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 7, Sydney Memorial, Rookwood NSW
Remembered: Panel 117, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At about 1145 hours on 10 May 1943, Oxford BM711 crashed into the sea some five miles south east of Seaspray, Victoria, and all on board lost their lives. The accident occurred after the completion of an air to air gunnery exercise, when the aircraft went out of control at 2,000 feet and dived into the sea.
The crew members of BM711 were:
Flight Sergeant Henry Alleyn Francis Dickinson (411296) (Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman Vivian Arthur Westcott (419980) (Trainee Air Gunner)
Leading Aircraftman Maurice White (418903) (Trainee Air Gunner)
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, 166/43/183; A9845, 239