Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

MallalaRA1

MALLALA  5502

MEMORIAL: RAAF WW2 Crash Site                                                    

 

LOCATION: 1.5 miles South of Mallala

 

DESCRIPTION: On Tuesday 14^th October 1941 at 0830 hours, two Avro Ansons from 6 Service Flying Training School, Mallala, W2254 and W2257; collided in mid-air whilst performing flying training.

Crew: W2254:

 

407163

 

BLACKER Ian Bruce

 

Sgt Flying Instructor

 

From Edillilie SA

 

408654

 

HUTCHINS Bernard George

 

LAC Student pilot

 

From Caulfield Vic

 

Crew: W2257:

 

402680

 

SOMERVILLE Charles Edwards

 

P/O Flying Instructor

 

From Earlwood NSW

 

416356

 

MASLEN John Gordon

 

LAC Student pilot

 

From Hazelwood Park SA

 

REPORTS:

 

Official: Summary:

 

While performing a normal training programme Ansons W2254 and W2257 collided in mid-air and crashed, killing all occupants. Cause of crash: Unknown

 

Eyewitness:

 

None reported

 

BURIALS/CREMATIONS:

 

 

 

CEMETERY

 

PLOT

 

ROW

 

GRAVE

 

BLACKER I.B.

 

Tumby Bay General Cemetery SA

 

 

 

I

 

83

 

HUTCHINS B.G.

 

Burwood General Cemetery VIC

 

C of E

 

Sect. 5

 

102

 

MASLEN J.G.

 

Port Adelaide and Suburban Cemetery

 

Sect. L

 

11

 

401N

 

SOMERVILLE C.E.

 

Cremated Centennial Park Cemetery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Centennial Park War Cemetery:

 

1939 – 1945

 

THE SERVICEMEN WHO ARE HONOURED HERE DIED IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

 

THEIR REMAINS WERE CREMATED AND THE ASHES SCATTERED OR REST

 

IN PLACES WHERE FULL COMMEMORATION COULD NOT BE GIVEN.

 

ROYAL

 

AUSTRALIAN

 

AIR FORCE

 

PILOT OFFICERS

 

402680 SOMERVILLE C.E.

 

Port Adelaide and Suburban Cemetery (Cheltenham)

Headstone:

In Loving Memory

 

Of

LAC JOHN GORDON MASLEN

 

DIED AT MALLALA 14^th OCT. 1941

 

RESULT OF ACCIDENT

AGED 20 YEARS

"Duty Nobly Done"

 

Plaque:

RAAF Crest

 

416356 LDG. AIRCRAFTMAN

 

J. G. MASLEN

 

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

 

14TH OCTOBER 1941 AGE 20

 

…

 

GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS

 

THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE

 

Tumby Bay Cemetery:

 

RAAF Crest

 

407163 SERGEANT

 

I. B. BLACKER

 

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

 

14TH OCTOBER 1941 AGE 26

 

…

 

HONOUR HIS KING

 

AND COUNTRY

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT/DATE:

 

Research began 2002,

 

RAAF accident report dated 14 Oct 1941

 

Anson photo of aircraft by type; courtesy RAAF Records

 

Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC)

 

National Archives of Australia

 

Map courtesy Golden Fleece (H.C. Sleigh Ltd.) 1965 version

 

Locality map courtesy Google Earth