LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Alfred James WEBB
Service No: 413297
Born: Albury NSW, 27 September 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 16 August 1941
Unit: No. 61 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 61 Operational Training Unit Spitfire aircraft P8268), Shropshire, 14 May 1943, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Oswestry General Cemetery, Shropshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Alfred James Webb and Eva Jessie Webb, of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Randwick NSW
Remembered: Panel 132, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Brother of Warrant Officer Joseph William Webb (422774)
At 1100 hours on 14 May 1943, Spitfire P8268 collided in mid-air with Wellington BK186 during a non-operational day affiliation training flight, and crashed at Marshbrook near Church Streeton, Shropshire and Flight Sergeant Webb was killed. The Wellington was recovered safely.
A Court of Inquiry into the accident stated: “Flight Sergeant Webb was briefed by the Chief Flying Instructor in company with the bomber crew, not to come closer than 150 yards to the Wellington aircraft. The Instructor also warned the Spitfire on radio that the aircraft was coming too close to the Wellington, but these warnings were apparently not heeded by Webb, who paid no attention to the Flight Commander’s warning from an accompanying Spitfire. The Spitfire approached too close and it hit the top of the Wellington’s fin and rudder with its propeller and possibly tail unit, at a height of 3,800 feet. It was considered to be an error of judgement by the Pilot.”
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, 166/43/196