LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Evan WILLIAMS
Service No: 416901
Born: Millicent SA, 21 February 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 11 October 1941
Unit: No. 34 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 34 Operational Training Unit Ventura aircraft AE911), New Brunswick, Canada, 26 February 1943, Aged 26 Years
Buried: St George Rural Cemetery, Charlotte County, New Brunswick
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Edward and Katie Williams, of Millicent, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Millicent SA
Remembered: Panel 133, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
On the 26th February 1943, Ventura AE911 took off from Pennfield Ridge, detailed to carry out a non operational formation cross country training flight. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. The bodies of the four crew members were recovered months after the aircraft went missing and were buried on the 26th November 1943.
The crew members of AE911 were:
Sergeant Donald Stuart Bates (413220) (RNZAF) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Norman Clifford Harris (138121) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant Thomas Marshall Otto (R/161141) (RCAF) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant Evan Williams (416901) (Navigator Bomb Aimer)
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, 166/43/204