LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Geoffrey Ernest HEATH DFC DFM
Service No: 6025
Born: Croydon NSW, 27 December 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 30 October 1939
Unit: No. 627 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Woodhall Spa
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 15 August 1944
Died: Air Operations: (No. 627 Squadron Mosquito aircraft DZ516), France, 29 June 1944, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Ernest William and Queenie Dorothy Levy Heath, of Croydon, New South Wales, Australia; husband of Elizabeth Waring Heath, of North Duffield, Yorkshire, England
Roll of Honour: Croydon NSW
Remembered: Panel 123, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
DFM Citation (for service with No. 460 Squadron): ‘This airman has taken part in many successful sorties, including a raid on Milan, and three on Berlin. His last sorties against the last named city on the night of 1 March, 1943. Flight Sergeant Heath has displayed great skill, often in difficult circumstances, playing a large part in the successes obtained. Cool and resourceful in emergency, this airman has proved himself to be a valuable member of aircrew.” Remarks by Station Commander: “Flight Sergeant Heath’s coolness and devotion to duty contributed in a large measure to the successful completion by his pilot of a tour of operations. He has always displayed great presence of mind in an emergency, and I recommend that his efforts always to do his best merit the award of the DFM.”
DFC Citation: “As Navigator, Flying Officer Heath has flown on many long distance sorties. The targets have been many and varied, and in many cases, difficult to locate but for his navigational skill together with his great determination have invariably located the exact position. The success of many of these initiatives can largely be attributed to this officer’s initiative and co-operation.” (London Gazette 15 August 1944, Page 3774)
On 29 June 1944, Mosquito DZ516 took off from Woodhall Spa detailed to mark a flying bomb site at Beauvoir, France. Nothing was heard from the aircraft and it failed to return to base. The aircraft was shot down and crashed in the Commune of Vaulx, France and both crew members were killed.
The crew members of DZ516 were:
Flying Officer Geoffrey Ernest Heath DFC DFM (6025) (Navigator)
Flying Officer James Alexander Saint-Smith DFC DFM (403380) (Pilot)
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, 166/17/206