LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer William Edward COLLINS
Service No: 427848
Born: Merredin WA, 8 May 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 7 October 1942
Unit: No. 5 Service Flying Training School, Uranquinty NSW
Died: Aircraft Accident, (No. 5 Service Flying Training School Anson aircraft EG446), Moruya NSW, 1 November 1945, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Moruya Cemetery NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William James Collins and Lucy Lillian Collins, of Nedlands, Western Australia.
Roll of Honour: Nedlands WA
Remembered: Panel 115, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cenotaph Undercroft, State War Memorial, Kings Park WA
Ken Brazel (1) recounted a sequel to the fatal crash at Moruya late in 1945 of an Uranquinty Avro Anson (pilot Flying Officer “Flash” Fraser). He was an instructor on Brazel’s EFTS course at Narrandera and he also knew him at Uranquinty. Apparently the aircraft left Moruya overloaded and there was a structural failure when a farewell shoot-up was attempted. Following the crash, the Ansons at Uranquinty were grounded and the wing spars checked which involved stripping the wing covering and an inspection of its internal structure. After this work was completed the aircraft had to be flight tested.
(1) Warrant Officer Kenneth Charles Brazel (443656) was discharged from the RAAF on 5 August 1946.
Extract from Ilbery, P L T (Peter Leslie Thomas) (422957) Hatching an Air Force: 2SFTS, 5SFTS, 1BFTS Uranquinty and Wagga Wagga, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4650, 2002 – Page 27
On board EG446 were:
Flying Officer William Edward Collins (427848) (Second Pilot)
Flying Officer Alan James Fraser (413850) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Jack Miller (440045) (Third Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman Allan Murray Scott (71518) (Fitter IIE)
Leading Aircraftman Thomas Cecil Shade (69966) (Flight Mechanic)
Leading Aircraftman Darrell Francis Snow (134514) (Fitter IIA)
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, 65