LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Raymond Oliver HARVEY
Service No: 432510
Born: Burwood NSW, 3 October 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 2 January 1943
Unit: No. 18 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 18 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit Oxford aircraft LX278), Warwickshire, 29 June 1944, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, Oxfordshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Ernest and Gladys Mary Ellen Harvey, of Blakehurst, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Kogarah NSW
Remembered: Panel 123, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 29 June 1944, Oxford LX278 took off from RAF Station Snitterfield, Warwickshire, detailed to carry out a non-operational night test flight, part of which necessitated flying near the stalling speed of the aircraft. The aircraft stalled, and it crashed one mile south of Leamington airfield and the two crew members were killed. Eye witnesses said the aircraft was seen in the inverted position at approximately 2,000 feet and during recovery the aircraft struck the ground.
The crew members of LX278 were:
Flight Sergeant Raymond Oliver Harvey (432510) (Pilot)
Aircraftman II Edward Naylor (3020044) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator under training)
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, 166/17/654