LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Ian Bruce BLACKER
Service No: 407163
Born: Tumby Bay SA, 23 May 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 July 1940
Unit: No. 6 Service Flying Training School, Mallala SA
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 6 Service Flying Training School Anson aircraft W2254), Mallala, 14 October 1941, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Tumby Bay General Cemetery, SA
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Stanley Bruce and Doris Blacker, of Edillilie
Roll of Honour: Tumby Bay SA
Remembered: Panel 115, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
At 0830 hours on 14 October 1941, Anson aircraft W2254 and W2257 had a mid-air collision at Mallala and all four crew members from both aircraft were killed.
The crew members of W2254 were:
Sergeant Ian Bruce Blacker (407163) (Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman Bernard George Hutchins (408654) (Trainee Pilot)
The crew members of W2257 were:
Leading Aircraftman John Gordon Maslen (416356) (Trainee Pilot)
Pilot Officer Charles Edwards Somerville (402680) (Pilot)
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 A9845, 100