LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Edward Clason GATES
Service No: 409103
Born: Elwood VIC, 4 November 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 19 July 1941
Unit: No. 453 Squadron
Died: Air Operations: (No. 453 Squadron Spitfire aircraft PU441), Normandy area, France, 7 August 1944, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edward David and Sylvia Selborne Gates, of Elwood, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Brighton VIC
Remembered: Panel 257, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 7 August 1944, Spitfire PU441 flown by Flying Officer Gates was one of four Spitfires led by Warrant Officer Keith Frederick Daff (409090) (Discharged: 4 February 1946) detailed to carry out an armed reconnaissance over the Falaise area, France. During an attack on enemy transport, the formation met intense anti-aircraft fire. On reforming after the attack it was found that PU441 was missing, and it failed to return to base.
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, 166/15/298