STEWART, David Roderick
| Service Number: | 405506 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 March 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 6 Service Flying Training School Mallala |
| Born: | Waikerie, SA, Australia, 1 February 1922 |
| Home Town: | Kedron, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Waikerie Primary School |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk |
| Died: | Accidental, Cape Willoughby, SA, Australia, Cape Willoughby, South Australia, Australia, 3 June 1942, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cape Willoughby RAAF Arvo Anson W2435 Crash Site, Sydney Memorial (Sydney War Cemetery) Rookwood, Waikerie Primary School Old Scholars Roll of Honor |
World War 2 Service
| 31 Mar 1941: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 405506, No. 6 Service Flying Training School Mallala, Empire Air Training Scheme | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 405506, No. 6 Service Flying Training School Mallala, No. 3 Recruiting Centre - Brisbane, Qld, Australia | |
| 31 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 405506 | |
| 13 Nov 1941: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), No. 6 Service Flying Training School Mallala, (NAA, Pg-2) | |
| 11 Dec 1941: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, No. 6 Service Flying Training School Mallala, (NAA, Pg-2) |
Air Crash in Training - Cape Willoughby SA
On Wednesday 3rd Jun 1942, an Avro Anson from 6 Service Flying Training School, Mallala, W2435; ditched into the sea.
REPORTS:
Official: Summary:
At approximately 1900 hours, Anson W2435 under the command of Sgt Cassidy; whilst on a navigation exercise ditched into the sea about 1 mile SSE of the Cape Willoughby lighthouse. Reports indicate that the aircraft drifted further out to sea and sank. No bodies or wreckage were recovered, unable to determine the cause of the incident.
Eyewitness:
The plane sounded like it was losing power, spluttering a bit. It disappeared from my sight but I thought I heard a noise like something whooshing into the sea. A mate told me later that he could see it bobbing around out to sea, then it was gone. Apparently the lighthouse keeper saw it go down, boats went out but nothing was found by our people; I don't know if the Air Force blokes or police found - Read more...
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Inscription
SYDNEY MEMORIAL
Panels to the crew of W2435 are located at Sydney War Cemetery in the grounds of the Rookwood Necropolis. The panels are to recognise (amongst others) those who perished and their remains not recovered. The inscription on a continuous frieze on the memorial states:
1939-HERE ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO DIED IN THE EASTERN AND SOUTHERN REGIONS OF AUSTRALIA, ON LAND, AT SEA, AND IN THE AIR, BUT TO WHOM THE FORTUNE OF WAR DENIED THE KNOWN AND HONOURED BURIAL GIVEN TO THEIR COMRADES IN DEATH-1945
Submitted 3 November 2015 by Steve Larkins
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Benjamin Herbert and Emma Stewart, of Kalinga, Queensland.
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