LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer David Skene PATERSON
Service No: 405931
Born: Rockhampton QLD, 2 June 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 22 June 1941
Unit: No. 66 Squadron, Bundaberg QLD
Died: Aircraft Accident: (No. 71 Squadron Avro Anson AX471), Heron Island QLD, 23 July 1943, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Gladstone Cemetery QLD
CWGC Additional Information: Son of David Skene Paterson and Lucy Neale Paterson, of Barcaldine
Roll of Honour: Barcaldine QLD
Remembered: Panel 103, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
While on an operational flight from Gladstone on 23 July 1943, No. 71 Squadron Avro Anson AX471 crashed on Heron Island about 60 kms to the north east at about 1040 hours. On board the aircraft were:
Aircraftman Class 1 Thomas George Eastoe (124403) (Supernumerary) Seriously injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 17 December 1945
Flying Officer Fabian Crothers McMaster (420102) (Pilot) (No. 71 Squadron)
Flying Officer David Skene Paterson (405931) (Wireless Air Gunner) (No. 66 Squadron)
Flying Officer Ronald Douglas Robertson (411951) (Pilot) (No. 71 Squadron) Fatally injured, Died: 1 August 1943
Flying Officer Francis Joseph Robinson (264997) (Administrative and Special Duties) (No. 32 Squadron)
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, 62
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992