LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant William Tyndall SHEPPARD
Service No: 407731
Born: Mount Gambier SA, 5 August 1913
Enlisted in the RAAF: 4 January 1941
Unit: No. 3 Radio School (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 3 Radio School Botha aircraft 6211), Ayrshire, 24 February 1942, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Monkton and Prestwick Cemetery, Ayrshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John Halford Sheppard and Minna Gertrude Sheppard, of Mount Gambier, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Mount Gambier 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
On the 24th February 1942, Botha 6211 crashed at Turnberry, Ayrshire, Scotland, as a result of engine failure on the starboard side due to loss of oil. An attempt was made to land with one engine at a speed in excess of normal gliding speed. As a consequence the aircraft overshot and attempted to go round again. The aircraft stalled and crashed into the ground. The Pilot was killed and three of the crew were injured.
The crew members of 6211 were:
Sergeant C Balmain (111719) (RAFVR) (Student) Injured
Sergeant E Brown (1189027) (RAFVR) (Student) Injured
Sergeant T H Mayho (1252632) (RAFVR) (Instructor) Injured
Sergeant William Tyndall Sheppard (407731) (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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/162/293
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