LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Donald Walker PETTIT
Service No: 426675
Born: Brisbane QLD, 17 January 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 18 July 1942
Unit: No. 15 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 15 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft LN614), Berkshire, 2 March 1944, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, Oxfordshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Harry George and Isabella Mackenzie Petitt, of Nundah, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 128, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 2226 hours on the night of 1 March 1944 Wellington LN614 took off from RAF Harwell detailed to carry out a night bombing exercise. At 0146 hours, the crew returned to base and having called on the radio requesting permission to land was given the green to do so. However the bomber then disappeared from view and it was daylight before wreckage was found at Lollingdon Hill Farm, near Cholsey, three miles south south west of Wellingford, Berkshire. Five of the crew members had been killed and one was injured.
The crew members of LN614 were:
Flight Sergeant James Victor Avery (1041908) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant William Roland Goodwin (912395) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Bernard Hugh Pattenden (1323721) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant G D Pearson (159334) (RAFVR) Injured
Flight Sergeant Donald Walker Petitt (426675) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Henry Gordon Reason (2220712) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
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, 166/32/319