LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Colin Kenneth TAIT
Service No: 403157
Born: Kempsey NW, 23 August 1912
Enlisted in the RAAF: 9 December 1940
Unit: No. 602 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 602 Squadron Spitfire aircraft BM469) off the French Coast, 8 June 1942, Aged 29 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Sidney James Tait and Agness Elizabeth Tait, of East Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Kempsey NSW
Remembered: Panel 111, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 131, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1300 hours on 8 June 1942 Flying Officer Tait flying Spitfire BM469 took off to engage enemy aircraft over St Omer, France. When the aircraft was on the way back a message was received from the aircraft at 1400 hours, asking if base was receiving him. The message then faded out. At the time the position was calculated to be near the French coast between Mardyck and Calais. The aircraft did not return to base. Air Sea Rescue searches were made but were unsuccessful. Following post war enquiries and investigations, it was recorded in 1948 the Flying Officer Tait had lost his life at sea.
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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/58/76