FRANCIS, Max Gordon
| Service Number: | 417356 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 April 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 467 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Waikerie, South Australia, 20 August 1923 |
| Home Town: | Waikerie, Loxton Waikerie, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Waikerie State School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Flying battle , Le Blanc Mesnil, France, 21 April 1944, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
Clichy Northern Cemetery, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial, Waikerie Primary School Old Scholars Roll of Honor, Waikerie War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 25 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 417356, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 417356 | |
| 26 Apr 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, 417356 | |
| 21 Apr 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 417356, No. 467 Squadron (RAAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement |
Help us honour Max Gordon Francis's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography
Max Gordon FRANCIS was born 20-8-1923, son of Kenneth Pearce Francis and Amelia Bertram Francis, of Waikerie, South Australia. He was one of six children, with sisters Beth and Joyce, and brothers Ross, Alan, and Jack (Jack was enlisted in the 2nd A.I.F.)
In 1940 Max commenced gliding training joining the Gliding Club at Waikerie.
Max enlisted and attested on 25 Apr 1942, completing his initial training in South Australia before completing training interstate and being posted to Europe and joining Bomber Command. Max was posted to 467 Squadron (R.A.A.F.) at R.A.F. base Waddington, England. He was flying in a Lancaster bomber, serial number ND732, with the radio call-sign P0-Y (Y-Yoke). On the night of Thursday 20th April 1944, they took off on an operational sortie over the bomb marshalling yards at La Chappelle, France.
Max failed to return from a night raid attack on April 21, 1944. He and his crew mates were listed as "Missing".
On the 28th April 1945 the RAAF changed the classification and Max was listed "Missing presumed killed".
In a later investigation after the war, it was determined ND732 was hit by flack over the target and crashed at Le Blanc Mesnil on the south east side of Paris-le-Bourget airport, killing Flying Officer Cameron (pilot) and his six crew members, including Flight Sergeant Max FRANCIS, instantly.
Max was interred in the Clichy Northern Cemetery and is commemorated at the Waikerie Cemetery in the family plot and on the Australian War Memorial on the Roll of Honour.
Max is also commemorated with a tree and plaque in the WAIKERIE War Memorial Gardens.
Click images to start slideshow.