LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer John Frederick PETTIT
Service No: 406662
Born: Wellington, South Africa, 11 June 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 3 March 1941 (at Perth WA)
Unit: No. 6 Service Flying Training School, Mallala SA
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 6 Service Flying Training School Anson aircraft W2556), St Vincent’s Gulf SA, 14 July 1943, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George and Amelia Maud Pettit, of Kalamunda, Western Australia.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 5, Sydney Memorial, Rookwood NSW
Remembered: Panel 116, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cenotaph Undercroft, State War Memorial, Kings Park WA
On 14 July 1943, Avro Anson W2556 went missing on a test flight over St Vincent’s Gulf. The cause of the accident is unknown. The crew members were:
Corporal James Denis Horrigan (27786) (Fitter IIE)
Aircraftman Class 1 John Vincent Colin Matheson (45971) (Fitter IIA)
Flying Officer John Frederick Pettit (406662) (Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman Donald Beresford Tucker (59315) (Electrician)
Aircraftman Class 1 Desmond Whenan (116182) (Instrument Repairer)
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, 78
Bibliography:
Gaston, Bruce DFC (406646), Harry Horner DFC OAM (406595), Raymond Storer (406666) (Editors), Aircrew for the Duration: of and by members of RAAF EATS Courses 10, 11, 12 & 13, Gaston Horner and Storer, Nedlands WA, 1990
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992