Donald James BASSETT

Donald James BASSETT Update Details

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BASSETT, Donald James

Service Number:	406465
Enlisted:	6 January 1941
Last Rank:	Flight Lieutenant
Last Unit:	RAAF Telecommunications and Communications Units
Born:	Collie, Western Australia, Australia, 31 August 1918
Home Town:	Perth, Western Australia
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Clerk, National Bank, Claremont, Western Australia
Died:	Aircraft accident, Machan's Beach, Cairns, Queensland, Australia, 5 March 1945, aged 26 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God" Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 5.
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Fremantle National Bank of Western Australasia Ltd. Roll of Honour, Sydney Memorial (Sydney War Cemetery) Rookwood

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Flight Lieutenant, 406465
6 Jan 1941:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), Aircrew Training Units
6 Jan 1941:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 406465
5 Mar 1945:	Involvement Flight Lieutenant, RAAF Telecommunications and Communications Units

Help us honour Donald James Bassett's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by David Barlow

Son of James Bailey Bassett and Charlotte Elizabeth Norah Bassett of Wembley Park, WA

Commemorated on Panel 5 of the Sydney Memorial

RAAF Lockheed Hudson A16-118 (VMZI-FM) crashed into the sea about 400 yards out from Machan's Beach, just north of the mouth of the Barron River near Cairns - the pilot had been warned not to take off due to a cyclone in the area, however they left from Townsville and crashed near Cairns.

RAAF crew from Number 4 Communications Flight:

Flight Lieutenant John William Newell 404543

Flying Officer Gordon Thomson DFM 400573

Warrant Officer Berrol Samuel Frieze 409400

Flying Officer Donald James Bassett 406465

Leading Aircraftman John Dudley Moore 77157

The aircraft was carrying:

Major General George Alan Vasey VX9 - HQ 7 Australian Division

Major General Rupert Major Downes CMG VD of the Australian Army Medical Corps

Lieutenant Colonel George Anthony Bertram OBE NX324 of Advanced Land HQ "G" Branch Australian Headquarters

Corporal Edward Lewis James NX4011 of Local Administration Staff Australian Headquarters - Batman to General Vasey

Colonel Robert Heathcote Russell DSO NX168 of the Australian Army Medical Corps

Lieutenant William Riggall VX80932 of the Australian Army Service Corps - PA to General Vasey

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia