LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Thomas Alan RUTHERFORD
Service No: 406626
Born: Brampton England, 3 August 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 3 February 1941 (at Perth WA)
Unit: No. 54 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 54 Operational Training Unit Blenheim aircraft BA192), England, 14 August 1942, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Duns Cemetery, Berwickshire UK
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Stamford Roy and Laura May Rutherford, of Cottesloe, Western Australia. His brother Bernard Rinian Roy Rutherford (406540) also died on service.
Roll of Honour: Perth WA
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cenotaph Undercroft, State War Memorial, Kings Park WA
Remembered: Honour Avenues, Kings Park WA
During night flying practice on 14 August 1942, Blenheim BA192 flown solo by Sergeant Rutherford struck a tree 2 miles south of Charterhall at 0130 hours on a moonless night and he was killed.
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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9301, 406626
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