LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Laurence Francis PICKUP
Service No: 413419
Born: Quirindi NSW, 8 March 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 17 August 1941
Unit: No. 6 Service Flying Training School, Mallala SA
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 6 Service Flying Training School Anson aircraft W2435), near Cape Willoughby SA, 3 June 1942, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Ainsworth James Pickup and Mary Jane Pickup, of Randwick, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 7, Sydney Memorial, Rookwood NSW
Remembered: Panel 116, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: NSW Department of Education Teachers and Trainees WW2 Honour Roll, Sydney NSW
Brother of Warrant officer Clive Alexander Pickup (32274)
The Light House keeper at Cape Willoughby, Kangaroo Island, reported that at about 1815 hours on the 3 June 1943, an aircraft flying low from the south east circled the Light House three or four times flashing a Morse lamp, and that it headed out to sea in a south east direction about 1835 hours. The aircraft alighted in the sea about 1907 hours and in response to a Morse lamp signal requesting what was required, replied -“Boat”. The Light House keeper had no boat. The aircraft was about half a mile south east of the Lighthouse and was drifting to the south was lost sight of about one mile south of the Tower. Extensive air and naval searches were conducted for the missing aircraft and crew but no trace was found. On 7 June 1942, the search was abandoned.
The crew members of W2435 were:
Sergeant Frederick Reginald Cassidy (6732) (Pilot)
Sergeant Kenneth Walter Hailey (405480) (Observer)
Leading Aircraftman Laurence Francis Pickup (413419) (Trainee Pilot)
Sergeant David Roderick Stewart (40506) (Wireless 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, 163/151/89; A9845, 78
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line