LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant John James LORD
Service No: 409158
Born: Prahran VIC, 31 January 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 19 July 1941
Unit: No. 1 Operational Training Unit, East Sale VIC
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Operational Training Unit Ventura aircraft A59-9), Sale, 23 February 1945, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Sale War Cemetery, VIC
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John James Lord and Ellen Josephine Lord, of Cheltenham.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 112, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
The loss of Ventura aircraft A59-9 with six men on board was due to a dense fog which rolled in about mid-afternoon on 23 February 1945. Four radar mechanics accompanied the Flying Officer pilot and Warrant Officer wireless operator/air gunner on board the Ventura to conduct a radar test flight and their crashed aeroplane was found the next morning near East Sale. The incidence of aircraft accidents due to fog in the area was however, surprisingly light but this weather phenomenon continues to challenge aircrew today as East Sale is recognised as the second foggiest aerodrome in Australia.
Extract from Lax, M. (Mark) (editor) Always Ready: a history of RAAF East Sale, RAAF Publications Unit Melbourne VIC, 1993 – Page 41
The six RAAF Members killed in the crash of Ventura aircraft A59-9 were:
Leading Aircraftman Kellems Richards Davey (141547) (Radar Mechanic A)
Sergeant John Joseph Drake BEM (50354) (Navigator)
Warrant Officer John James Lord (409158) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Alan Murray McKay (409479) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer William Charles Thomas Robinson (415551) (Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman Marcus Rosalky (72799) (Radar Mechanic A)
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, 114