LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant James Raymond CLOSE
Service No: 26784
Born: Laura SA, 2 March 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 18 June 1940
Unit: No. 5 Squadron, Rockhampton QLD
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 5 Squadron Wirraway aircraft A20-288), Croydon NSW, 28 September 1942, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Narrabri Cemetery, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Sydney Kitchin Close and Beatrice May Close; husband of Mary Close, of Malvern, South Australia.
Roll of Honour: Adelaide SA
Remembered: Panel 99, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Brother of Flight Sergeant Sidney Maynard Close (416413)
At 1645 hours on 28 September 1942, Wirraway A20-288 appeared to stall during a turn and then crashed at Croydon, New South Wales, killing both crew members who were:
Flight Sergeant James Raymond Close (26784) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Robert Henry Wilkinson (408130) (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, 110