LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant John Robertson ROSS
Service No: 400157
Born: Goondiwindi QLD, 17 August 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 23 June 1940 (at Melbourne VIC)
Unit: No. 452 Squadron
Died: Injuries from an Aircraft Accident (loss of No. 452 Squadron Ryan aircraft A50-21 on 20 October 1942), Sydney NSW, 20 October 1942, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Brighton General Cemetery VIC
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Hugh Macdonald Ross and Clarice Adelaide Ross, of Sandringham
Roll of Honour: Melbourne VIC
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1545 hours on 20 October 1942, Ryan A50-21 flown by Flight Lieutenant Ross took off on the long runway at Schofield’s satellite aerodrome detailed to carry out aerobatics. Minutes later, the aircraft returned and flew once around the circuit. By this time the wind had swung around to the short runway which had been rendered unusable by heavy rains. Flight Lieutenant Ross flew low over the runway as if to examine the surface. Near the end of the runway he pulled up fairly steeply to avoid some telephone wires. The aircraft climbed to 100 feet and then commenced to spin. The starboard wing struck the ground and the aircraft came to rest in a shallow pond outside the aircraft boundary. The two on board were critically injured and died of the injuries.
The crew members were:
Leading Aircraftman Walter Clarence Elliott (14856) (Flight Mechanic, Supernumerary)
Flight Lieutenant John Robertson Ross (400157) (Pilot)
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, 163/55/237