LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Frank Arnold JAQUES
Service No: 162397
Born: Balmain NSW, 24 August 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 March 1944
Unit: No. 18 Repair and Servicing Unit, Pell NT
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 18 Repair and Servicing Unit Beaufort aircraft A9-496), Pell NT, 10 January 1945, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Adelaide River War Cemetery NT
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Harry and Fay Jaques, of Marrickville, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 113, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Great Synagogue Roll of Honour Book, Sydney NSW
Remembered: The Great Synagogue World War 2 Roll of Honour, Sydney NSW
At approximately 0845 hours on 10 January 1945, Beaufort A9-496 crashed at Pell Airstrip when it was about to land after a test flight. The Unit later reported “upon making an approach to land, the aircraft struck a steep bank, loosing height rapidly until the wing struck the ground. It appears that the pilot experienced elevator trouble but this could not be verified.” The aircraft crashed heavily on the airstrip and burst into flames. The fuselage broke at the rear of the cabin and the two pilots and Leading Aircraftman Smith were able to extricate themselves from the wreck but Leading Aircraftman Jaques was killed in the accident.
The crew members of A9-496 were:
Squadron Leader George Lancelot Brown (250700) (Pilot) (Ex -80th Bombardment Group) Discharged from the RAAF: 16 April 1946
Leading Aircraftman Frank Arnold Jaques (162397) (Turner, Supernumerary)
Flight Lieutenant Martin Seymour Law (403933) (Pilot) (Ex-380th Bombardment Group) Discharged from the RAAF: 24 May 1946
Leading Aircraftman George Smith BEM (77669) (Fitter II Engines, Supernumerary) (No. 18 RSU) Discharged from the RAAF: 18 April 1946
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, 166/20/212
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line