LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Richard Frederick WIESENER
Service No: 607
Born: Sydney NSW, 31 December 1910
Enlisted in the RAAF: 8 January 1940
Unit: No. 2 Squadron, RAAF Station Laverton VIC
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 2 Squadron Hudson aircraft Hudson A16-97), Canberra ACT, 13 August 1940, Aged 29 Years
Buried: Cremated
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Dr. Frederick Abbey Wiesener, and Wilmot Elsie Wiesener; husband of Elizabeth Joan Wiesener, of Strathfield
Roll of Honour: Strathfield NSW
Remembered: Memorial Wall, Rookwood Crematorium, Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 98, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1050 hours on 13 August 1940, No. 2 Squadron Hudson A16-97 spun and crashed 3 kms east of Canberra aerodrome. Everyone on board was killed. This accident had profound affects on the highest level of Australia’s Government and Defence hierarchy during a critical period early in World War II. On board A16-97 were:
Crew:
Aircraftman Charles Joseph Crosdale (6673) (Flight Mechanic)
Flight Lieutenant Robert Edward Hitchcock (115) (Pilot)
Corporal John Frederick Palmer (2130) (Wireless Operator)
Pilot Officer Richard Frederick Wiesener (607) (Co-Pilot)
Passengers:
Mr. Richard Elford (Secretary to the Minister for Air)
The Honourable James Valentine Fairbairn (Minister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation)
The Honourable Sir Henry Somer Gullett KCMG (Vice President of the Executive Council, Minister in Charge of Scientific and Industrial Research and Minister assisting the Minister for Information)
Brigadier the Honourable Geoffrey Austin Street MC (Minister for the Army and Minister for Repatriation)
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Thornthwaite DSO MC (V159753) (Army Headquarters)
Lieutenant General Sir Cyril Brudenell Bingham White KCB KCMG KCVO DSO (Chief of the General Staff)
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 A705, 53/1/739