LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman John Thomas McCARTHY
Service No: 421998
Born: Kogarah NSW, 1 February 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 April 1942
Unit: No. 5 Service Flying Training School, Uranquinty NSW
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 5 Service Flying Training School Wirraway aircraft A20-585), Belfrayden NSW, 8 January 1943, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Wagga Wagga General Cemetery, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Andrew and Alice McCarthy, of Cowra
Roll of Honour: Cowra NSW
Remembered: Panel 116, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cowra World War II and Korea Memorial Roll of Honour, Cowra NSW
At 1010 hours on 8 January 1943, Wirraway A20-585 collided with Wirraway A20-613 and Leading Aircraftman McCarthy was killed. A20-585 was taking off from the Belafrayden Satellite aerodrome to carry out instrument flying take off practice when it collided with A20-613 which was stationery. The accident was considered to be due to the failure of the Staff pilot of A20-585 to keep an adequate lookout, and/or failure to prevent the aircraft swinging during take- off.
The crew members of A20-585 were:
Sergeant Maxwell John Fincham Conway (205784) (Staff Pilot) Slightly injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 28 February 1945
Leading Aircraftman John Thomas McCarthy (421998) (Trainee Dual Pilot)
The Pilot of A20-613 was:
Leading Aircraftman Charles Wilson Wannan (421948) (Trainee Pilot) Uninjured, Discharged from the RAAF: 18 January 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, 166/26/6; A9845, 174
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line