LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Allister Dalton CROWTHER
Service No: 411007
Born: Cobar NSW, 15 May 1909
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 March 1941
Unit: No. 460 Squadron, RAF Breighton, Yorkshire
Died: Air Operations (No. 460 Squadron Wellington aircraft Z1385), Germany, 14 September 1942, Aged 33 Years
Buried: Sage War Cemetery, Oldenburg, Germany
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Orlando and Frances Mary Crowther, of Wyong, New South Wales, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Wyong NSW
Remembered: Panel 107, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Wyong War Memorial, Wyong NSW
The North Sea port which received most attention from Bomber Command, however, was Bremen, which, between April and September 1942, had directed against it approximately 2,500 of the 10,500 sorties flown against all naval targets. The shipyards, U-boat facilities, aircraft factories,
warehouses and transport system at this port, were of particular importance, and, because it lay within Gee range, it had a special priority rating as a routine target.
Extract from Herington, J. (John) (406545) Air War Against Germany and Italy 1939-1943, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1954 – Page 315
Wellington Z1385 took off from RAF Breighton at 0017 hours on 14 September 1942 detailed to attack Bremen. Bomb load 810 x 4 lb (pound) (2 kg) incendiaries. Seven aircraft from the Squadron were detailed to carry out the mission. The aircraft which was on loan from No 310 (Polish) Squadron, RAF Hemswell, failed to return to base after the mission. Post war it was established that the aircraft was shot down on 14 September 1942 and all the crew members were killed.
The crew members of Z1385 were:
Flight Sergeant Keith Campbell Bennett (407992) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Edward Keith Forbes Brasher DFM (404949) (Pilot)
Sergeant Allister Dalton Crowther (411007) (Navigator)
Sergeant Douglas Westbury Johnson (403139) (Bomb Aimer)
Sergeant William John Carr Monk (403793) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)*
*A member of No 460 Conversion Flight.
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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/98/684
Bibliography:
Firkins, P. C. (Peter Charles) (441386) Strike and Return, Westward Ho Publishing City Beach WA, 1985