FRANCIS, Bryan Gordon Grosvenor
| Service Number: | 414478 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 October 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 15 Advance Flying Unit (RAF) |
| Born: | Mossman, Queensland, Australia, 25 October 1921 |
| Home Town: | Bundaberg, Bundaberg, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Oakwood State School, Bundaberg High School and Bundaberg Technical College |
| Occupation: | Cane farmer/Sugar chemist |
| Died: | Accidental (air crash), Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom, 21 March 1943, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Holy Cross Churchyard, Ramsbury, Wiltshire, England |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bundaberg Civic Centre Memorial Portico |
World War 2 Service
| 11 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 414478, Brisbane, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 414478 | |
| 22 May 1942: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 414478, Embarked from Melbourne for Canada and the UK | |
| 21 Mar 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 414478, 15 Advance Flying Unit (RAF), Empire Air Training Scheme |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Bryan Gordon Grosvenor FRANCIS was born on 25th October, 1921 in Mossman, Queensland
His parents were Charles Gordon FRANCIS (born in Bundaberg) and Eileen Marion PALMES (born in England)
Bryan was living in Gooburum via Bundaberg & working as a sugar cane farmer when he enlisted as Aircrew 2 with the RAAF on 11th October, 1941 - he embarked from Melbourne on 22nd May, 1942 for Canada and the UK
He was promoted to Leading Aircraftman on 31st January 1942
He applied to join the Canadian Air Force on 27th September, 1942 & was promoted to Temporary Sergeant on 9th October, 1942 with the Royal Canadian Air Force , attached to the Royal Air Force (RAF)
He was killed in a non operational, day flying training accident on board an Oxford II Airspeed Aircraft (AB725) which crashed at Stanton, Harcourt ,Oxfordshire on 21st March, 1943. He was attached to the Advanced Training Unit in Ramsbury at the time (unit 15, Advance Flying RAF) He was the pupil Pilot with an instructor present and the accident was determined to be caused by an error of judgement - the starboard wing hit the ground when the aircraft was carrying out low flying practice - his pilot instructor was Jack Richard Thomas HAZELTON (DFM) RAFVR
He is buried in the Holy Cross Churchyard in Ramsbury, Wiltshire, England - Plot south of Church - his name is memorialised on the Australian War Memorial and the Roll of Honour in Bundaberg
He was awarded his Flying Badge on 9th October, 1942 and also received the Defence Medal
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