LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Christian James Waldemar ROTHE
Service No: 422713
Born: Sydney NSW, 15 February 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 23 May 1942
Unit: No. 4 Operational Training Unit
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 4 Operational Training Unit Wirraway aircraft A20-456), near RAAF Station Williamtown NSW, 30 October 1943, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Newcastle (Sandgate) War Cemetery, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Christian Waldemar and Mabel Rothe, of Sydney
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 112, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall, Sandgate NSW
On 30 October 1943, Wirraway A20-456 along with two other aircraft was detailed to carry out a dive bombing exercise at the practice bombing range at Williamtown. The aircraft took off at 1045 hours. At 1115 hours the Aerodrome Control Pilot was informed by the Controller of No. 2 Fighter Sector Headquarters, that an aircraft had crashed while the Range Party also informed the Unit Medical Officer that a Wirraway had crashed on the practice bombing range and that Flight Sergeant Rothe, flying solo, had been killed. He was on No. 6 Vultee Vengeance course. The cause of the accident was attributed to the aircraft flying too low and having struck the ground with its starboard wing tip while flying away from the target.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/36/136; A9845, 194
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line