LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer John Geoffrey Norman GADSDEN
Service No: 418828
Born: Toorak VIC, 28 April 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 19 June 1942
Unit: No. 2 Operational Training Unit
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 2 Operational Training Unit Wirraway aircraft A20-613), near Wentworth NSW, 25 October 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Mildura Public Cemetery, Victoria
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. N. Gadsden, of Toorak
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 112, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1525 hours on 25 October 1944, Wirraway A20-613 crashed one mile south west of the Wentworth landing strip, and the two on board were killed. During acrobatics at 3,000 feet the aircraft went into a spin and crashed.
The crew members of A20-613 were:
Pilot Officer John Geoffrey Norman Gadsden (418828) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Edward John O’Connell (423858) (Pilot under instruction)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/15/337; A9845, 198