LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Grenville Allen MAWER
Service No: 403112
Born: Canterbury NSW, 31 October 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 9 December 1940
Unit: No. 452 Squadron
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 452 Squadron Spitfire aircraft JL314), near Strauss Field NT, 26 September 1943, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Adelaide River War Cemetery NT
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Thomas Henry and Ella Agnes Mawer, of Manly, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Manly ANZAC War Memorial, Manly NSW
On 26 September 1943, Spitfire EE677 flown by Flying Officer John Phillip Adam (404491) collided in mid-air with Spitfire JL314 flown by Flying Officer Mawer during a non- operational training flight, and both pilots were killed. EE677 took off from Strauss Field at 0745 hours as White 3 in a four aircraft formation detailed to carry out flight formation, Army co-operation and a Camera Gunnery exercise. At 0830 hours JL314 made an attack from the rear on White section which was flying in line abreast near Manton Dam at 2,000 feet. Flying Officer Adam in EE677 then attacked Flying Officer Mawer in JL314 out of the sun from above from the 8 o’clock position. Flying Officer Adam closed well and pulled out to starboard. At the same time Mawer in JL314 commenced a steep starboard turn to starboard. His port wing struck Adam’s port wing and both wings broke off about six feet from the tips. Both aircraft rolled out of control and crashed in flames and both Pilots were killed.
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, 163/142/439; A9845, 274
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line