LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant Osbourn Sydney SHAVE DFC
Service No: 408527
Born: Melbourne VIC, 15 August 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 26 April 1941 (at Melbourne VIC)
Unit: No. 357 Squadron (RAF), Jessore, Bangladesh
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 12 February 1946 (Citation Title: No. 357 Squadron (RAF))
Died: Air Operations (No. 357 Squadron Liberator aircraft BZ956), Myanmar, 1 November 1944, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Osbourn Rupert and Rose Shave; husband of Avenel Doris Shave, of Norwood, South Australia. A.I.C.A.
Roll of Honour: Adelaide SA
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
DFC Citation: “Flight Lieutenant Shave as pilot has taken part in many operational sorties, the majority of which have necessitated flying low over mountainous country often in adverse weather. In June 1944, he completed seven operational sorties in eleven days. At all times, Flight Lieutenant Shave has displayed outstanding skill, determination and devotion to duty.” (London Gazette 12/2/1946 Page 903)
On the 1st November 1944, Liberator BZ956 took off at 12 noon detailed to carry out a special operation. The aircraft crashed near Manpang Central Burma, in position, 22.05 North 099.21 East on the top most slopes of Loi Anglawng at a height of 8537 feet. In a report by a Recovery Party to the Burma-China border, eyewitnesses stated that “the aircraft was to have dropped supplies on a nearby spot and flares had been lit to guide the aircraft.”
The crew members of BZ956 were:
Warrant Officer I Ernest Joseph Leonard Bolingbroke (R/90953) (RCAF) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Albert George Carlton (412390) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Warrant Officer Dennis Leslie Francis (189477) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Peter George Masters (1850121) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Reginald Charles Joffre Powell (412179) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Osbourn Sydney Shave DFC (408527) (Pilot)
Flight Lieutenant Sydney Desmond Titterington DFC (411553) (Navigator)
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 A705, 166/37/588