LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Thomas Donovan POTTER
Service No: 432260
Born: Burwood NSW, 8 October 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 5 December 1942
Unit: No. 29 Operational Training Unit (RAF), RAF Station Bruntingthorpe
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 29 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft BK552), Shropshire, 8 September 1944, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Chester (Blacon) Cemetery, Cheshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Fred and Susan Eliza Potter, of Thornley, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Drummoyne NSW
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Drummoyne War Memorial, Drummoyne NSW
At 1120 hours on 8 September 1944, Wellington BK552 took off from Bruntingthorpe for a cross-country training exercise. The aircraft iced up while flying in cloud and dived from 1,500 feet into the ground at Maesbury Road near Oswestry, Shropshire at 1330 hours. All the crew were members killed.
The crew members of BK552 were:
Flying Officer Desmond De Villiers Clarke (160076) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Pilot Officer Harold James Holmes (164590) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Gordon Edward Manning (1520513) (RAFVR) (Second Navigator)
Sergeant John Stanley Alexander Nicholson (1597145) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Thomas Donovan Potter (432260) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Clifford Taylor (1671845) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Leslie Edward Bowler Walker (1852244) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
During the day cross country exercise when severe icing conditions existed, it was assumed that the Pilot flew into cumulous nimbus cloud and experienced engine failure. The Pilot experienced engine failure above higher cloud and descended into it. The aircraft became iced up and it was assumed the Pilot lost control. An eye witness observed the aircraft diving on only one engine.
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, 166/33/218
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line