LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Harold Paul Stanfield ANNELLS
Service No: 408008
Born: Hornsby NSW, 30 May 1912
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 May 1940 (at Hobart TAS)
Unit: No. 223 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations (No. 223 Squadron Baltimore aircraft AG941), Western Desert, 5 November 1942, Aged 32 years
Buried: El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Charles and Ruby Annells, of Newtown, Tasmania, Australia
Roll of Honour: Hobart TAS
Remembered: Panel 118, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 5 November 1942 Baltimores AG941 and AG966 were two of a formation detailed to carry out as operational bombing mission against motor transport in the Western Desert. Intense and accurate heavy and light anti-aircraft fire was encountered while approaching and over the target. While over the target the two aircraft were seen to collide and both aircraft crashed to the ground and burst into flames. Four of the crew members baled out, three parachutes were seen to open and one failed to open.
The crew members of AG941 were:
Flight Sergeant Harold Paul Stanfield Annells (408008) (Observer)
Warrant Officer II Roderick Charles Mutch (R/75869) (RCAF) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Arthur John Newman (400285) (Pilot) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 19 February 1946
Sergeant Robert Henry Stevens (931214) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
The crew members of AG966 were:
Sergeant James P Canavan (1331767) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Bertram Arnold Kirkham (116908) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Flying Officer Donald Frederick Rowe (402403) (Observer)
Sergeant E B Skuce (R/74182) (RCAF) (Wireless Air Gunner) PoW
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, 163/87/124