LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Ernest Osman MILFORD
Service No: 416276
Born: Wales, 16 November 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 28 April 941 (at Adelaide SA)
Unit: No. 2 Air Observers School, Mount Gambier SA
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 2 Air Observers School Anson aircraft W 1966), Mount Gambier, 12 July 1941, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Moonta Cemetery, SA
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William and Annie Mabel Milford, of North Moonta
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 116, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
At 0850 hours on 12 July 1941 Anson W2020 emerged from a cloud and collided with Anson W1966. The port engine of W2020 damaged the tail plane of W1966 causing W1966 to crash while W2020 landed successfully.
The crew members of W1966 were:
Leading Aircraftman Lance Lorimer Andrew (408203) (Trainee Observer)
Leading Aircraftman Ernest Osman Milford (416276) (Trainee Observer)
Flight Lieutenant George Kenneth Peacock (37825) (RAF) (Pilot)
The crew members of W2020 were:
Leading Aircraftman (later Flight Lieutenant) Norman Cecil Hooper (O33010) (Trainee Observer) Discharged from the RAAF: 13 December 1957
Sergeant Harold Richmond Hursthouse (407240) (Pilot) Discharged from the RAAF: 1 February 1946
Sergeant Hartley Banks Deland (later Flight Lieutenant) (407572) (Instructor Observer) Killed in a ground accident: 24 March 1946
Leading Aircraftman William Robert Martin (4519) (Trainee Observer) Discharged from the RAAF: 29 August 1946
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, 100
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992