LEST WE FORGET
Warrant Officer Robert Walter KNOX
Service No: 436001
Born: Perth WA, 17 September 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 28 October 1942
Unit: No. 451 Squadron, RAF Hawkinge, Kent
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 451 Squadron Spitfire aircraft SM 919), near Birdlip Gloucestershire, 20 July 1945, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Robert and Mary Ellen Knox, of North Perth, Western Australia.
Roll of Honour: Perth WA
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cenotaph Undercroft, State War Memorial, Kings Park WA
On 20 July 1945, Spitfire SM919 took off at 1145 hours from Compord with Warrant Officer Ebert in another Spitfire, flying in line abreast at 1000 feet, on a non-operational ferry flight. The formation entered cloud at 1205 hours, and Ebert stated that Knox was with him, but after a few minutes SM919 turned gently towards him and disappeared under the nose of his aircraft. SM919 was under control and it was the last he saw of the aircraft. He called SM919 on radio but there was no response.
Eye witnesses on the ground stated that the aircraft emerged from low cloud and crashed.
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 A705, 166/23/117