LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Stanley William MURRAY
Service No: 412622
Born: Waverley NSW, 24 January 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 July 1941
Unit: No. 56 Operational Training Unit (RAF), RAF Station Montrose
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 56 Operational Training Unit Hurricane aircraft W9311), Scotland, 11 October 1943, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Montrose Sleepyhillock Cemetery, Angus, Scotland
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Sidney James Murray and Lily Maude Murray, of Auburn, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Randwick NSW
Remembered: Panel 127, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 11 October 1943, Hurricane W9311 spun in and crashed at Mains, Dun Farm killing Flight Sergeant Murray.
A Flying Accident report stated: “two aircraft flown by Flight Sergeant Murray and Sergeant Blair took off at 1515 hours to carry out an exercise quarter attacks from a head on approach. They proceeded to the Montrose Basin area, Murray acting as the target aircraft. Blair completed his attacks successfully. The aircraft then changed over and Sergeant Blair became the target aircraft.
Murray completed three attacks successfully. The fourth attack was the last that Blair saw of Murray. He tried to make contact by radio but failed. He then contacted the ground station and returned to base. Eye witnesses stated that Murray completed his fourth attack but to do so involved a very tight turn. He then appeared to have closed to very close astern of Blair, and then continued in a steep bank away to starboard and downwards, which developed into a slow spin, from which the aircraft did not recover before it hit the ground.”
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, 166/28/164