LEST WE FORGET

Pilot Officer John Michael WHITEHEAD

Service No: 411836
Born: Bradford, England, 12 January 1914
Enlisted in the RAAF: 25 May 1941 (at Sydney NSW)
Unit: No. 1 Operational Training Unit, Bairnsdale VIC
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Operational Training Unit Oxford aircraft BG473), near Bairnsdale, 28 January 1943, Aged 29 Years
Buried: Bairnsdale War Cemetery, VIC
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William and Lucy Millicent Whitehead, of Harrogate, Yorkshire, England.
Roll of Honour: Harrogate, Yorkshire, UK; Condobolin NSW or Forbes NSW
Remembered: Panel 113, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

On 28 January 1943, Airspeed Oxford BG473 crashed at 6 kms west of Bairnsdale, killing its crew. The aircraft is reported to have “collapsed in the air”. The crew members of BG 473 were:

Corporal George Rupert Anzac Kanake (19264) (Fitter IIE)
Sergeant Leslie James Reid (406955) (Pilot)
Pilot Officer John Michael Whitehead (411836) (Second Pilot)

References:

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 239

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