Peter Buck DENNETT

Peter Buck DENNETT Update Details

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DENNETT, Peter Buck

Service Number:	418927
Enlisted:	20 June 1942
Last Rank:	Flying Officer
Last Unit:	Not yet discovered
Born:	Albert Park, Victoria, Australia , 29 September 1922
Home Town:	Toorak, Stonnington, Victoria
Schooling:	Melbourne Church of England Grammar School , Victoria, Australia
Occupation:	Jackeroo
Died:	Flying Battle, France, 19 July 1944, aged 21 years
Cemetery:	Chassericourt Churchyard, France.
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Beaconsfield Upper War Memorial, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial, Melbourne Cricket Club WW2 Honour Roll

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Flying Officer, 418927
20 Jun 1942:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 418927

Last flight

Peter's plane was shot down by flak at Chassericourt 3 miles North of Chavanges during a raid on the Revigny Rail Yards. 4 of the crew survived, 3 evaded capture.

Peter was part of the crew of Lancaster LM537 which was a Mk.111. This plane was delivered to 630 Squadron on the 25th of April 1944. (Incomplete operational history.) However, it is recorded that Lancaster LM537 took part in the operation against Wesseling on the 21/22nd of June 1944, and that when lost against Revigny, had a total of 175 hours. LM537 was one of four 630 Squadron Lancasters lost on this operation. (See: LM117; ME796 and PB236)
The flight was airborne at 22:50 hours on the 18th of July 1944 from RAF East Kirkby to destroy a railway junction. They were hit by flak and crashed around 02:00 19th of July 1944 at Chassericourt (Aube), 16 km NNE of Brienne-le-Chateau. Those killed are buried in the churchyard at Chassericourt.

The crew of this flight were:

Flight Officer Peter Buck Dennett RAAF 21 pilot KIA
Sergeant G. A. Alexander PoW
Flight Sergeant C. R. Jerwood KIA
Sergeant H. P. Ritchie RCAF Evaded capture
Sergeant W. J. Jarman KIA
Sergeant R. A. Hilborne Evaded capture
Sergeant J. Stones Evd
Sergeant G. A. Alexander managed to evade capture after leaving the aircraft but was betrayed and captured 10th of August 1944. He was interned in Camp L7. PoW No. 541

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia