LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant John Charles Weir PATRICK
Service No: 403816
Born: Pelaw Main NSW, 10 June 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 3 March 1941
Unit: No. 24 Squadron
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 24 Squadron Wirraway aircraft A20-98), Sydney NSW, 29 April 1943, Aged 24 Years
Cremated: Newcastle Crematorium Beresford NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Charles Alfred Weir Patrick and Gladys Elsie Patrick; husband of Hilda Mary Patrick, of Kurri Kurri
Roll of Honour: Kurri Kurri NSW
Remembered: Panel 5, New South Wales Crematorium Memorial
Remembered: Panel 102, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Kurri Kurri War Memorial, Kurri Kurri NSW
On 29 April 1943, Wirraways A20-98 and A20-176 were practicing formation flying when they collided. Both crew members of A20-98 were forced to bale out and Sergeant Patrick’s parachute separated during the descent and he was killed. A20-176 was extensively damaged but was recovered safely.
The crew members of A20-98 were:
Sergeant Owen Joseph McKenna (418004) (Pilot) Baled out, safe, Discharged from the RAAF: 6 June 1947
Sergeant John Charles Weir Patrick (403816) (Wireless Air Gunner) Baled out, parachute separated
The crew members of A20-176 were:
Sergeant Berte Dempsey (409790) (Wireless Air Gunner) Killed on Air Operations: 31 January 1944
Sergeant Louis Alexander Stephens (405608) (Pilot) Discharged from the RAAF: 3 December 1945
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 173; A706, 166/32/90
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line