LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Lloyd Alan FOX
Service No: 401281
Born: Shepparton VIC, 27 April 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 6 January 1941
Unit: No. 223 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 223 Squadron Baltimore aircraft FA475), Italy, 29 October 1943, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Bari War Cemetery, Italy
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Alan Dudman Fox and Cissie Jane Fox, of Charlton, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Charlton VIC
Remembered: Panel 122, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 29 October 1943 Baltimore FA475 was on an operational mission. At approximately 1350 hours when near Lucera, Italy, a violent explosion took place and the Pilot left the formation in order to investigate the cause. Flight Sergeant Burchett was also jammed in his turret and unable to free himself. The WAG informed the Pilot and suggested he land immediately in order to release the air gunner. The Pilot began to lose height with that object in view. At the same time he made repeated enquiries of his crew as to what was wrong but received no reply as the Inter-com was unserviceable. At this stage Pilot Officer Fox jettisoned his hatch and baled out at about 1500 feet. Although his parachute opened it must have been too late to be of any assistance and his body was found by an Army Unit. There being no landing place the Pilot then set course for base and landed.
The crew members of FA475 were:
Flight Sergeant C E Burchett (1271371) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner) Uninjured
Pilot Officer Lloyd Alan Fox (401281) (Observer)
Warrant Officer F E Hastilow (401282) (Pilot and Aircraft Captain) Uninjured
Sergeant A W Meason (R/68609) (RCAF) (Wireless Air Gunner) Slightly injured
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, 166/14/118