LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Darius Bede NORTHMORE
Service No: 432683
Born: Bondi NSW, 25 October 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 16 January 1943
Unit: No. 4 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 4 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit Anson aircraft MG356), Kirkcudbrightshire, 21 July 1944, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Stoneykirk Cemetery, Wigtownshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Thomas and Eleanor Northmore, of Bondi, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Bondi NSW
Remembered: Panel 128, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On the 21st July 1944, Avro Anson MG356 with a crew of five crashed into Lamacham Hill, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, about eight miles north east of Newton Stewart. The aircraft was on a night navigation exercise, when at about 0450 hours it struck the top of the hill (height about 2,250 feet). All on board were killed.
The crew members of MG356 were:
Sergeant Bertram Ernest William Becker (1603389) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber under instruction)
Sergeant Edward Hugh Patrick Gresswell (1851841) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Raymond John Crotty (410957) (Pilot)
Sergeant Darius Bede Northmore (432683) (Navigator under instruction)
Warrant Officer Peter Smith (407993) (Staff Wireless Operator Air)
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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/30/66