Geoffrey David ABBOTT

ABBOTT, Geoffrey David

Service Numbers: N256326, 423520
Enlisted: 29 October 1941
Last Rank: Leading Aircraftman
Last Unit: Royal Australian Air Force
Born: Ashbury, New South Wales, 5 September 1922
Home Town: Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Died: Accidental, Port MacDonnell, Port MacDonnell, South Australia, Australia, 27 May 1943, aged 20 years
Cemetery: Mount Gambier Lake Terrace Cemetery
Plot B, Row B, Grave 2 , Mount Gambier General Cemetery, Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Port MacDonnell RAAF Anson R9886 Accident Site
Show Relationships

World War 2 Service

29 Oct 1941: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, N256326
14 Jul 1942: Enlisted Woolloomooloo, New South Wales
14 Jul 1942: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 423520
27 May 1943: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 423520, Royal Australian Air Force
Date unknown: Involvement

G D Abbott

Lake Terrace Cemetery-War Graves-423520 LDG. Aircraftman, G D Abbott, Royal Australian Air Force, 27 May 1943, age 20. ‘In his young eyes a sudden glory shone’
Geoffrey David Abbott was born on 5 September 1922, the only child of David and Lillian Abbott. They lived in Ashbury, an inner-west suburb of Sydney.
He first enlisted in the Australian Army on 29 October 1941. Four months earlier his father had passed away at the age of 47 years.
In July 1942 Geoffrey left the Army and enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force. He was transferred to the No 2 Air Observers School at Mount Gambier with the rank of Leading Aircraftman.
On the night of 27 May 1943, Geoffrey was taking part in a navigation exercise on board an Anson R9886 aircraft near Port MacDonnell. At 1920 hours the pilot felt faint and warned the crew to prepare to bail out. Geoffrey misunderstood the instructions and rushed to the rear door and bailed out before anyone could stop him. The wind carried his parachute out to sea. The pilot recovered and landed the plane safely. Search parties went out in lifeboats looking for Geoffrey. His body was found at 0930 the next morning about one mile south-west of Port MacDonnell. He appeared to have landed safely in the water and detached himself from his parachute but had drowned during the night.
His funeral was held on Sunday 30 May 1943. After a service at Christ Church the procession made its way to Lake Terrace Cemetery.
Leading Aircraftman Geoffrey David Abbott was the first to be buried in the War Graves section of the cemetery.
One memorial notice from The Sydney Morning Herald read- ABBOTT, Treasured memories of Geoff, RAAF, my dearly loved only child, died May 27, 1943. Till we meet again. Mother.
His mother Lillian passed away in 1978 at the age of 80 years.
The 2 Air Observers School at Mount Gambier lost 23 airmen who were killed in fatal accidents during 1941 to 1944.

Read more...
Showing 1 of 1 story

Biography

2 Air Observers School Mount Gambier South Australia

Rank -L.A.C.

Plane was Avro Anson R 9886

Son of David Charles and Lilian Adelaide Cameron Abbott. of Ashbury, New South Wales