LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Robert Henry JOHNS
Service No: 428024
Born: Hobart TAS, 27 July 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 11 September 1942
Unit: No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School, Port Pirie SA
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School Battle aircraft L5654), Port Pirie, 27 August 1943, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Port Pirie General Cemetery, SA
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Henry Charles and Ruby May Irene Johns, of Hobart, Tasmania
Roll of Honour: Hobart TAS
Remembered: Panel 116, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
During gunnery practice on 27 August 1943, at 1430 hours Fairey Battle aircraft K9380 and L5654 collided in mid-air 16 kms west of Port Pirie. All six members on both aircraft were killed. Those members were:
Battle K9380
Leading Aircraftman John Douglas Gardiner (432548) (Trainee Air Gunner)
Leading Aircraftman Lewis Grant (419616) (Trainee Air Gunner)
Leading Aircraftman Reginald David Griffith (432506) (Trainee Air Gunner)
Sergeant Robert Henry Johns (428024) (Instructor Pilot)
Battle L5654
Sergeant Gordon Norman Ninness (423173) (Instructor Pilot)
Aircraftman Class 1 Cyril Albert Venables (122157) (Armament Assistant)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 233