HOWE, Graydon Raymond
| Service Numbers: | 423743, NX70536 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 December 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Born: | Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia, 26 November 1919 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Newington College, Stanmore , New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Student dentist |
| Died: | Flying Battle, France, 6 June 1944, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Saint Sylvain churchyard, Saint-Sylvain, Haute-Normandie, France Pilot of plane with 6 other occupants, St Sylvain Churchyard, St Sylvain, Haute-Normandie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Flying Officer, 423743 | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Dec 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant, NX70536 | |
| 18 Jul 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer | |
| 18 Jul 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 423743 | |
| 6 Jun 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 423743, Royal Australian Air Force |
Help us honour Graydon Raymond Howe's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Merridee Wouters
Born in Marrickville, Graydon was studying to be dentist like his father when he enlisted. He first enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force in December 1940, and was assigned to the armoured car division. He was soon promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, but discharged in July 1942 to join the Air Force where he trained as a pilot. Flight Lieutenant Graydon
On Christmas Eve, 1942, Howe married Judith Rothwyn, of Burwood, Sydney.
Five months after marrying he left Australia for UK, flying via Canada.
He joined No. 42 Operational Training Group, which formed part of the Royal Air Force No. 38 Group, Transport Command, Flight Lieutenant Howe piloted an Albemarle twin-engine transport, which towed a Horsa or Hamilcar gilder filled with British troops.
Flying Officer Graydon Howe was piloting an Armstrong Whitworth Albermale with RAF No. 42 Operational Training Unit when his aircraft crashed near the village of St Sylvain in France. All on board the aircraft were killed. Flying Officer Graydon was 24 years old.
The reason for the Albermale's crash is unknown, and Flight Lieutenant Howe’s remains were recovered along with those of his crew mates by German troops. The Mayor of St Sylvain arranged burial within the St Sylvain churchyard, where they lie to this day.
Sylvain is a village 35 kilometres south-west of St Valery-en-Caux on the west side of the road to Cany-Barville and Fécamp. In the north-west corner of the Churchyard are the graves of 7 airmen.
Burial Details
1611070 Sergeant Ernest Leonard Belcher, Air Bomber, O. R. T. U. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 6th June 1944, aged 22. Son of Leonard and Dulcie H. Belcher, of Fulham, London.
1601469 Sergeant Bernard Percy Cane, Navigator, O. R. T. U. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 6th June 1944, aged 21. Son of Percy Alfred and Ethel Cane, of Harrow Weald, Middlesex.
904519 Flight Sergeant Alan Albert Clark, Navigator, O. R. T. U. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 6th June 1944, aged 29. Son of George Albert Clark, and of Edith Ellen Clark, of Purbrook, Hampshire.
423743 Flying Officer Graydon Raymond Howe, Royal Australian Air Force, died 6th June 1944., aged 24. Son of Percy Edgar and Fanny Pearl Howe; husband of Judith Rothwyn Howe, of Burwood, New South Wales. Australia.
1581137 Sergeant Stanley Neale, Air Gunner/Wireless Operator, O. R. T. U. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 6th June 1944, aged 21. Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Neale, of Coventry.
1868478 Sergeant Henry Edward Pearson, Air Gunner, O. R. T. U. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 6th June 1944, aged 19. Son of Frank and Maud Pearson, of Kingstanding, Birmingham.
1681158 Sergeant Clifford Scargill, Air Gunner/Wireless Operator, O. R. T. U. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 6th June 1944, aged 22. Son of Thomas and Marion Louisa Scargill, of Leeds, Yorkshire.
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