LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Thomas Kenneth WRIGHT
Service No: 768
Born: Sydney NSW, 7 September 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 5 February 1940 (at Archerfield QLD)
Unit: No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School, Evans Head NSW
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School Battle aircraft L5700), off Terrigal NSW, 16 January 1941, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Leslie Hamilton Wright and Gertrude Wright, of Bellevue Hill, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 5, Sydney Memorial, Rookwood NSW
Remembered: Panel 117, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1445 hours on 16 January 1941, Fairey Battles L5683 and 5700 collided in full flight during a ferry flight from Richmond to Evans Head, and crashed into the sea three miles east of Terrigal, New South Wales. The collision occurred during a slow turn to port. The pilots in both aircraft lost their lives. Leading Aircraft MacPherson was rescued by a boat from a collier.
The crew members were:
Leading Aircraftman Alexander McIntyre McPherson (21026) (Supernumerary L5700) Baled out safe, Discharged from the RAAF: 20 November 1945
Flying Officer Thomas Kenneth Wright (768) (Pilot L5700)
Pilot Officer Reginald George Norris (821) (Pilot L5683)
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, 163/64/88