LEST WE FORGET
Corporal William Joseph CROTTY
Service No: 32182
Born: Sydney NSW, 29 May 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 8 July 1940
Unit: No. 7 Service Flying Training School (RCAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 7 Service Flying Training School Anson aircraft 7472), MacLeod, 22 April 1943, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Fort MacLeod (Holy Cross) Cemetery, Alberta
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John and Nellie Crotty, of Croydon, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Croydon NSW
Remembered: Panel 133, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
During a night training flight on 22 April 1943, Anson 7472, while on approach to the main aerodrome at MacLeod, collided with Anson FP7192 which was also on its final approach. Both aircraft crashed at about 0345 hours, and both Pilots, flying solo, were killed.
Leading Aircraftman George Peter Burcher (423619) (Student Pilot) (Anson FP719)
Corporal William Joseph Crotty (32182) (Student Pilot) (Anson 7472)
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, 166/6/122