LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Charles Edwards SOMERVILLE
Service No: 402680
Born: Marrickville NSW, 7 February 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 18 September 1940
Unit: No. 6 Service Flying Training School, Mallala SA
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 6 Service Flying Training School Anson aircraft W2257), Mallala, 14 October 1941, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Cremated
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Daniel and Susan Somerville; husband of Edna Elsie Somerville, of Earlwood, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Sydney NSW
Remembered: South Australian Cremation Memorial, Adelaide SA
Remembered: Panel 116, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 0830 hours on 14 October 1941, Anson aircraft W2254 and W2257 had a mid-air collision at Mallala and all four crew members from both aircraft were killed.
The crew members of W2257 were:
Leading Aircraftman John Gordon Maslen (416356) (Trainee Pilot)
Pilot Officer Charles Edwards Somerville (402680) (Pilot)
The crew members of W2254 were:
Sergeant Ian Bruce Blacker (407163) (Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman Bernard George Hutchins (408654) (Trainee Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 100
Bibliography:
Ilbery, P.L.T. (Peter Leslie Thomas) (422957) Hatching an Air Force: 2SFTS, 5SFTS, 1BFTS Uranquinty and Wagga Wagga, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4650, 2002