LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer James Stewart WRIGHT
Service No: 412746
Born: Dubbo NSW, 26 July 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 July 1941
Unit: No. 168 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 168 Squadron Mustang aircraft AM209), France, 16 March 1944, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Arthur Stuart and Charlotte Jane Wright, of Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia; husband of Mavis Janet Wright, of Dubbo
Roll of Honour: Dubbo NSW
Remembered: Panel 133, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Dubbo Memorial Drive and Rose Garden, Dubbo NSW
Mustang AM209 flown by Flying Officer Wright flying as No. 2 and Flying Officer John Charles Low (413129) (killed on Air Operations 8 June 1944) flying as No. 1 were airborne at 0834 hours on the 16th March 1944, detailed to take photos of the Abbeville area. They were to cross the French coast at Ault and proceed to the target, and exit from France at Point de Quentin.
Flying Officer Low (No. 1) stated that they had encountered low cloud at the coast and in flying through this the two aircraft had become separated. Flying Officer Low failed to find sufficient breaks in the cloud over the target to take photos and returned. Prior to his departure from the target area at approximately 0925 hours, Flying Officer Wright reported that he was making a run over the target. After this nothing further was heard and all efforts to contact him on the radio were unsuccessful. Flying Officer Low landed at 1048 hours and reported that no anti-aircraft fire flak or enemy aircraft were encountered.
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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/44/111
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line