LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant John Edwin THOMAS
Service No: 417903
Born: Goodwood SA, 9 June 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 18 July 1942
Unit: No. 20 Operational Training Unit (RAF), RAF Lossiemouth, Morayshire
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 20 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft X3805), off Lossiemouth, 28 December 1943, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Lossiemouth Burial Ground, Moray, Scotland
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Philip James Thomas and Lilian Mary Thomas, of Millswood Estate, South Australia.
Roll of Honour: Unley SA
Remembered: Panel 131, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Wellington X3805 of No 20 Operational Training Unit RAF took off from RAF Lossiemouth on 28 December 1943, for an operational training flight. The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff when first the port and then the starboard engines failed. The aircraft crashed into the sea about 5 kms from land and north of Dallachy, Scotland. Rescue operations began immediately and four bodies were recovered but no survivors were found.
The crew members of X3805 were:
Pilot Officer Harold William Boyd (426823) (Pilot)
Sergeant William Mortimer Bridge (1384583) (RAFVR)
Sergeant Kenneth Dunkerley (1750728) (RAFVR)
Flight Sergeant John Patrick O’Donnell (416697) (Navigator Bomb Aimer)
Sergeant Robert Summers (1275819) (RAFVR)
Sergeant John Edwin Thomas (417903) (Navigator Bomb Aimer)
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, 166/39/194