LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant John Harrison GILLESPIE
Service No: 424900
Born: Kew VIC, 15 August 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 9 October 1942
Unit: No. 459 Squadron, Berka, Libya
Died: Injuries from Aircraft Accident (No. 459 Squadron Baltimore aircraft FA580), 6 October 1944), Alexandria, Egypt, 7 October 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Walter David and Lilian Gillespie, of Killara, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Killara NSW
Remembered: Panel 106, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: St David’s Uniting Church Stained Glass Windows, Lindfield NSW
Remembered: St David’s Uniting Church Roll of Honour, Lindfield NSW
Remembered: Know Grammar School Old Boys’ Memorial Wall, Wahroonga NSW
At Maryut on 6 October 1944, Baltimore FA580 overshot on landing and crashed, fatally injuring Flight Sergeant Gillespie who was seated in the Navigator’s position. On board FA 580 were:
Flight Sergeant Robert William Britz (422119) (Wireless Air Gunner) Discharged from the RAAF: 3 August 1945
Flight Sergeant John Harrison Gillespie (424900) (Navigator)
Flight Sergeant Claude Percival Ransley (426683) (O16126) (Pilot) Discharged from the RAAF: Date unavailable
Flight Sergeant Jack Simmons (1394466) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
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, 166/15/330; A9816, 145 (No. 459 Squadron Unit History)
Bibliography:
Kane-Maguire L. (Leon) Desert Scorpions: 459 Squadron RAAF 1942-1945, Australian Military History Publications Loftus NSW 2232, 2007
Vincent, D. (David) The RAAF Hudson Story Book 1, D. Vincent Highbury SA 5089, 1989