LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant John Symms SCOTT
Service No: 423335
Born: Woollahra NSW, 2 August 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 June 1942
Unit: No. 51 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Snaith
Died: Air Operations: (No. 51 Squadron Halifax aircraft MZ507), Germany, 24 March 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Parchim Cemetery, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Alban Edward and Mabel Milicent Scott, of Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Mosman NSW
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1843 hours on 24 March 1944 Halifax MZ507 took off from Station Snaith to attack Berlin. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it did not return to base. The aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Kreien, 6 kms south south esast of Lubz. Five of the crew members were killed and two were taken prisoner.
The crew members of MZ507 were:
Flight Lieutenant Roy Curtis (46406) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant Ronald Hepworth (1624606) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant Alan Leslie Midlane (1852348) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner) PoW, Died: 15 March 1945
Flight Sergeant John Symms Scott (423335) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant A Sidebotham (1531314) (RAF) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner) PoW
Sergeant Alfred Leonard Taylor (615242) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant William Vernon Willson (1389663) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
The Germans reported that the two bodies were identified, and that Flight Sergeant Scott had lost his life, but no burial details were given.
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, 166/37/354