LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Douglas Egbert HOOPER
Service No: 10229
Born: Cohuna VIC, 1 October 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 April 1940
Unit: No. 3 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit (RAF), RAF Station Southrop, Gloucestershire
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 3 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit Oxford aircraft LK172), Gloucestershire, 4 January 1945, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Bath (Haycombe) Cemetery, Somerset
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Harold Butson Hooper and Janet Louisa Hooper, of Cohuna, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Cohuna VIC
Remembered: Panel 124, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At about 1200 hours on 4 January 1945, Oxford LK172 took off from Southrop and it descended to commence low flying practice. A few moments after, the aircraft struck a haystack about 18 to 20 feet above ground level, from where it carried on partially out of control. It then struck two trees 30/35 feet high and the aircraft dived into the ground. The aircraft crashed at Banbury Hill and the accident was considered to be due to the disobedience of orders by the First Pilot in that he came below 250 feet while low flying.
The crew members of LK172 were:
Flying Officer D M Anderson (J/37664) (RCAF) (Pilot) Injured
Flight Sergeant Douglas Egbert Hooper (10229) (Second 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, 166/18/581