LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Leonard Malvern Delbridge FRANCIS
Service No: 407045
Born: Mt Lofty SA, 23 February 1906
Enlisted in the RAAF: 29 April 1940
Unit: No. 201 Group (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 201 Group Beaufort aircraft DD907), Egypt, 22 July 1943, Aged 37 Years
Buried: Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Alfred and Florence Helena Francis, of Fullarton, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Adelaide SA
Remembered: Panel 122, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
At 0910 hours on the 22nd July 1943, Beaufort DD907 crashed on takeoff at Mariat. Three of the crew members lost their lives.
The crew members of DD907 were:
Pilot Officer Cooper (144086) (RAFVR) (A & SD) (Supernumerary) Injured
Flight Sergeant Leonard Malvern Delbridge Francis (407045) (Observer)
Squadron Leader Gilfred McIver Lewthwaite (61304) (RAF) (Pilot) Died of Injuries
Flight Lieutenant K I Logan (89189) (RAFVR) (A & SD) (Supernumerary) Injured
Flight Lieutenant Keith Halcot Ridgway (407771) (Group Gunnery Officer) (Supernumerary) Died of Injuries
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
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/14/68