LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Ronald James SYKES
Service No: 908 (17765)
Born: Geelong VIC, 31 July 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 8 January 1940
Unit: No. 25 Squadron, RAAF Station Pearce WA
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 25 Squadron Wirraway aircraft A20-125) off Fremantle WA, 19 February 1941, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Karrakatta War Cemetery WA
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Albert John and Henrietta Elizabeth Sykes, of Moonee Ponds, Victoria.
Roll of Honour: Moonee Ponds VIC
Remembered: Panel 102, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Wirraway aircraft A20-125, whilst carrying out searchlight exercise at Fremantle, struck water when turning to avoid searchlight beam, resulting in death of pilot, Pilot Officer Ronald James Sykes (908), and passenger Pilot Officer Charles Vernon Anderson (1875) (General Duties (Reserve)). Machine written off.
No. 25 Squadron Operations Record Book A50 Entry dated 19 February 1941
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
Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (Perth) On-Line Records
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 105
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Wirraway, Boomerang and CA-15 in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1991