LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Samuel Harrington Considine THROWER
Service No: 3183
Born: Brisbane QLD, 1 September 1913
Enlisted in the RAAF: 13 December 1937 (at RAAF Station Richmond NSW)
Unit: No. 21 Operational Training Unit (RAF), RAF Station Moreton-in-Marsh
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 21 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft DV918), Enstone, 16 November 1943, Aged 30 Years
Buried: Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, Oxfordshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edward Lago Thrower and Christina Thrower, of Brisbane, Queensland; husband of Zena Margaret Thrower, of Wooloowin, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 131, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 2010 hours on the 16November 1943, Wellington DV918 took off from RAF Enstone to carry out a training exercise. The aircraft crashed ten minutes later while going round the circuit, coming down at Hookerswell Farm on the south east side of the village of Little Tew, nine miles south south west of Banbury, Oxfordshire. It was thought that the pilot may have been a little bit premature in raising the flaps, thus losing valuable height while still close to the ground. Four of the crew were killed and one was injured.
The crew members of DV918 were:
Sergeant Walter Douglas Cole (553895) (RAF) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Walter Roderick Matheson (136890) (RAFVR) (Bomb Aimer)
Sergeant Douglas William Pike (1345233) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant A B Selby (1569091) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner) Injured
Flight Sergeant Samuel Harrington Considine Thrower (3183) (Pilot)
A Court of Inquiry into the accident stated: “The aircraft was engaged on local night circuits and landings and the accident occurred after one hours flying. The Pilot had received one check circuit from a Screened instructor who had then watched him do two further circuits solo. On the third circuit the aircraft opened up at about 100 feet to go round again, but it crashed one mile from the flare path. The Group Captain RAF Moreton-in-Marsh stated: “The accident was due to inexperience and to the advent of a sudden emergency. The possible failure of the engines is being investigated, but the circumstances of the accident point to insufficient air speed and a possible “Dorn Drop” of air from the crest of the hill facing the runway.”
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, 166/39/166