LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Francis Lindsay CUNNINGHAM
Service No: 411753
Born: Chatswood NSW, 7 May 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 25 May 1941
Unit: No. 7 Service Flying Training School, Deniliquin NSW
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 7 Service Flying Training School Wirraway aircraft A20-379), near Deniliquin, 23 January 1942, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium, Sydney NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Noel Hilary Cunningham and Elizabeth Dorothy Cunningham, of Artarmon
Roll of Honour: Chatswood NSW
Remembered: Panel 115, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1525 hours on 23 January 1942, Wirraway A20-379 crashed half a mile from the Deniliquin aerodrome and the two on board were killed. The aircraft was attempting a forced landing when it spun in off a steep turn and dived into the ground, catching fire on impact.
The crew members of A20-379 were:
Leading Aircraftman Lancelot Murray Anderson (408960) (Second Pilot)
Sergeant Francis Lindsay Cunningham (411753) (Safety Pilot)
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, 163/99/73; A9845, 113
Bibliography:
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