LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant David John STOKES
Service No: 437015
Born: Waikerie SA, 2 September 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 10 October 1942
Unit: No. 2 Operational Training Unit, Mildura VIC
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 2 Operational Training Unit Spitfire aircraft EF588), Lake Victoria NSW, 16 August 1943, Aged 18 Years
Buried: Mildura Public Cemetery, VIC
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John and Hermine Stokes, of Gilberton, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Walkerville SA
Remembered: Panel 113, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
On 16 August 1943, Sergeant Stokes in Spitfire EF588 was undertaking a shadow shooting exercise over the Lake Victoria Shadow Shooting Range. At 1425 hours, he failed to pull out of a dive and crashed into the lake. The aircraft caught fire and then sank and he was killed.
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, 274
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Spitfire, Mustang and Kittyhawk in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1988