LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Hugh Phillip GRIFFITH
Service No: 416761
Born: North Adelaide SA, 10 August 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 11 September 1941
Unit: No. 12 Operational Training Unit (RAF), RAF Chipping Warden, Northamptonshire
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 12 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft Z1721), Warwickshire, 16 June 1943, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Banbury Cemetery, Oxfordshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Phillip John and Mary Griffith of North Adelaide, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Adelaide SA
Remembered: Panel 123, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Wellington Z1721 took off from RAF Chipping Warden at 0323 hours on 16 June 1943, detailed to carry out a night training exercise. The aircraft exploded 15 minutes later at Broomhill Farm, near Edgehill airfield. All the crew members were killed.
The crew members of Z1721 were:
Pilot Officer Thomas Wilkie Adam (J/21975) (RCAF) (Navigator)
Pilot Officer Gordon Booth (J/21469) (RCAF) (Bomb Aimer)
Flight Sergeant Hugh Phillip Griffith (416761) (Pilot)
Sergeant Frank Jones Welsby (1123739) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Kenneth Edward Troake (1708058) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
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, 166/16/108