LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Gordon Francis BLANCH
Service No: 420827
Born: Eulabil NSW, 10 March 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 5 December 1941
Unit: No. 5 Squadron
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 5 Squadron Wirraway aircraft A20-289), Mareeba QLD, 12 June 1943, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Atherton War Cemetery QLD
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Francis Bentley Blanch and Eileen Madge Blanch, of South Casino, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Casino NSW
Remembered: Panel 99, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On the 12 June 1943, Wirraway A20-289 was on a non-operational practice with ground light anti-aircraft airfield defences, at Mareeba, Queensland. The aircraft was seen to dive towards one of the guns, climb steeply, and commence a steep climbing turn about 600 feet from the ground. The aircraft appeared to stall, commence to spin and just as recovery was effected, it hit the ground at 1105 hours and both the crew members were killed.
Sergeant Gordon Francis Blanch (420827) (Navigator)
Pilot Officer Frank Lawrence Parton (32589) (Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9301, 420827: A9845, 110