LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Ronald Danforth WESTPHAL
Service No: 437301
Born: Maylands SA, 22 September 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 9 December 1942
Unit: No. 27 Operational Training Unit (RAF), RAF Church Broughton, Derbyshire
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 27 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft HZ533), Derbyshire, 18 December 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Chester (Blacon) Cemetery, Cheshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Chris Roland and Mona Westphal, of North Adelaide, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Adelaide SA
Remembered: Panel 132, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
On the 18th December 1944, Wellington HZ533 took off from RAF Church Broughton at 1955 hours detailed to carry out solo night circuits and landing practice. The aircraft got into trouble between 200 and 300 feet, after overshooting the runway, it lost height, and crashed close to the local railway line. Four of the crew members were killed and one injured.
The crew members of HZ533 were:
Sergeant Marcus Thomas Dower (435720) (Air Gunner) Injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 5 July 1946
Flight Sergeant John Murray Irvine (431481) (Navigator)
Flight Sergeant Angus Murdock McPhail (435175) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant George Thomas Miller (424432) (Air Bomber)
Flight Sergeant Ronald Danforth Westphal (437301) (Pilot)
The Flying Control Officer later stated: “At 1937 hours Westphal took off solo and made his first landing at 1945 hours. He took off again at 1955 hours. At 2000 hours the Captain called on radio “Funnels” and was given permission to “Pancake”. I watched the aircraft which was well in the Funnells at the time, make a steep approach, and at 2001 hours when over the boundary of the airfield at abut 150 feet, the Captain said he was going around again. The aircraft levelled out, the engines opened up, and it flew down the runway. The engines sounded normal and the aircraft was under control. I turned my attention to the next aircraft due to land, and almost immediately I heard a crash, and the Officer-in-Charge Night Flight said “He’s in.”
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, 166/43/1040