LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Horace WRENCH
Service No: 416012
Born: Kirksmanhulme, England, 9 April 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 1 March 1941 (at Adelaide SA)
Unit: No. 489 Squadron (RNZAF), RAF Wick, Highland
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 489 Squadron Hampden aircraft L4037), Scotland, 13 February 1943, Aged 27 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George Horace and Gertrude Wrench, of Port Augusta, South Australia. A.F.I.A.
Roll of Honour: Port Augusta SA
Remembered: Panel 197, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 133, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Hampden L4037 of No 489 Squadron crashed into the sea off Staxigoe, near Wick, at 1100 hours on 13 February 1943. The aircraft had taken off on a non operational acceptance test to determine the flying qualities of the aircraft. After a few minutes the aircraft was seen to crash for no apparent reason. At a subsequent Court of Inquiry it was found that there was loss of control of the aircraft when one engine caught fire. It was later recorded that the missing crew had lost their lives at sea.
The crew members of L4037 were:
Sergeant Robert Erskine Burt (1020208) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Leading Aircraftman Allan Richardson (1144371) (RAFVR) (Fitter M/A)
Sergeant Horace Wrench (416012) (Pilot)
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, 166/44/12