Mallala Anson W2256 Crash Site

Details

Location Mallala, South Australia, Australia
Type raaf_accident_site
Description

RAAF WW2 Crash Site.

On Monday 21st July 1943, Anson W2256 from 6SFTS, engaged in a solo night navigation exercise, was enveloped in un-forecast fog, which caused the student pilot to become disoriented. The aircraft crashed near the aerodrome and was discovered the next day.

Crew: 427803 COOK Colin Walter
LAC Student Pilot
From Cottesloe WA

REPORTS: RAAF Accident File A705, 166/8/172 https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=1065525&isAv=N

Official: Summary:

The above aircrew trainee took off from MALLALA aerodrome at 2143 hours on 20 Aug., 1943 on a sole night cross-country exercise in ANSON W2256. At approximately 2245 hours, a dense fog, not predicted in the met. forecast, rolled in very quickly over the aerodrome to a height of about 300 feet, while there were six aircraft still out on cross-country exercises.

The pilots all had difficulty in finding the aerodrome, which could only be vaguely discerned in the glow of the emergency lights below the fog, the flare path being invisible from above 150 feet. Two aircraft including W2256 were missing all night. The pilot of one of these was able to telephone the unit at 0715 hours the next day, 21 Aug., saying that he had landed safely S.E. of the aerodrome.

As soon as the fog lifted sufficiently (at approximately 0930 hours) aircraft began searching for the missing W2256, which was soon located close to the aerodrome, a total wreck. The pilot, No 427803 LAC COOK, C.W., suffering from fracture of the left thigh, contusion of face and head, and shock, had been forced to spend the night jammed in the badly smashed cockpit.

He was removed at approximately 1100 hours to School sick quarters. Next day, 22 Aug., he developed "haemorrhage of the brain resulting from injuries caused by aircraft crash", and died as a result at 1335 hours.

Eyewitnesses:

None reported

BURIALS/CREMATIONS:

COOK C. W.
Mallala War Cemetery SA
Section B Row D Grave 5

RAAF accident report dated 3 August 1943, THE OFFICIAL REPORT INCORRECTLY RECORDS THE ACCIDENT DATES AS 20, 21 AND 22 AUGUST INSTEAD OF JULY.

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Opened Not yet discovered
Inscription

Mallala War Cemetery

RAAF Crest

427803 Leading AIrcraftman

PC.W. COOK

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

21st JULY 1943 AGE 21

Condition

View Tributes of Honour Description

Names

Showing 1 person of interest from memorial

COOK, Colin Walter

Service number W24964
Leading Aircraftman
No. 6 Service Flying Training School Mallala
Royal Australian Air Force
Born 1 Nov 1921

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