LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Harold James ANDREWS
Service No: 410292
Born: Loch VIC, 21 January 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 6 December 1941
Unit: No. 17 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 17 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit Master aircraft DL858), Norfolk, 18 June 1943, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Downham Market Cemetery, Norfolk
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Howard and Lydia Grace Andrews, of South Yarra, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Koo Wee Rup VIC
Remembered: Panel 118, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 18 June 1943, Master DL858 took off detailed to carry out formation flying with Pilot Officer Blackmore. Pilot Officer Blackmore reported very bad weather of low cloud, heavy rain and poor visibility was encountered on the flight, and the aircraft were returning to base flying separately, but within sight of each other. The port wing of DL858 hit the top of a tall tree, and the aircraft crashed at 1220 hours near Magalen and caught fire, fatally injuring Pilot Officer Andrews.
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, 166/3/67