LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Kenneth Hemsley HEWITT
Service No: 414237
Born: Brisbane QLD, 5 March 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 17 August 1941
Unit: No. 27 Operational Training Unit (RAF), RAF Station Lichfield
Died: Ground Accident (No. 27 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft F3951), Lichfield, 15 April 1943, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Fradley (St Stephen’s) Churchyard, Staffordshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Charlie and Daisy Alice Hewitt, of Toowong, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 123, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On the 15 April 1943, Wellington F3951 was detailed to carry out a non-operational night training flight. Sergeant Crook (Pilot) was warming up the engines prior to the cross country training flight, and he told Flight Sergeant Hewitt to leave the aircraft and contact C Flight Officer to enquire about the whereabouts of Hewitt’s copy of the Bomber Code which could not be found in the aircraft. In doing so, Hewitt walked into the port propeller which struck him a glancing blow on the forehead, rendering him unconscious. The tips of the propeller were subsequently smashed off. The Aircraft Captain turned off the engines and requested Flying Control to send for an ambulance.
The Wing Commander Commanding Training Wing stated: “Prior to take off on the cross country training flight the Navigator discovering the loss of his copy of the Bomber Code, left the aircraft by the main hatch and walked unto the port propeller blade hitting him with a glancing blow to the forehead and causing a fatal injury.”
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, 166/17/114