KEAST, Dixon Ross
| Service Number: | 436038 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 November 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | RAF Conversion Units |
| Born: | Bruce Rock, Western Australia, Australia , 28 September 1924 |
| Home Town: | Como, South Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Northam High School. Wesley College Perth, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | School Teacher |
| Died: | Flying Accident, Off United Kingdom Coast, 5 February 1945, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England, United Kingdom Panel 284 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial, Runnymede Air Forces Memorial, South Perth Wesley College Lych Gate |
World War 2 Service
| 2 Nov 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 436038, No. 4 Initial Training School Victor Harbor | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Nov 1943: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 436038 | |
| 22 Nov 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 436038, RAF Conversion Units , Air War NW Europe 1939-45 |
Avro Lancaster Bomber ME440
Avro Lancaster heavy bomber ME440
On 5 February 1945, ME440 from 1654 HCU, took off on a Cross country training exercise but failed to return. The route was RAF Wigsley-Reading-Bodwin-The Skerries-Wigsley. The crew was briefed to fly at a height between 18,000/20,000 feet and an air speed of 160 knots. At 1643hrs the aircraft was given a diversion, and this was acknowledged. At 1658hrs the presumed position of ME440 was in the vicinity of Tudwells approximately 6miles South of Pwllheli, Wales. A further message was sent to the aircraft at 1706hrs but this was not acknowledged. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft. Their names are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Crew;
Pilot; FS Dixon Ross Keast 436038 RAAF
WOp; Sgt Coleman Glatt 1334205 RAFVR
AG; Sgt Alan Patrick Bulger 1796164 RAFVR
Flt Engineer; Sgt William Burns 3022679 RAFVR
WOp; Sgt Francis Dermot Byrne 1123766 RAFVR
AG; Sgt William Andrew Alcwyn Clark 619362 RAFVR
Nav; Sgt Maurice Moore 1685692 RAFVR
Air/Bmr; Sgt Frederick George Arthur Shaboe 1586237 RAFVR
Submitted 20 July 2019 by David Potter
Biography contributed by Graham Padget
Flight Sergeant Dixon Ross Keast pilot of Lancaster ME440 of 1654 Conversion Unit RAF took off from RAF Station Wigsley at 1326 hours on 5 December 1945 to carry out a non-operational cross country flight. The route was RAF Wigsley – Reading – Bodwin – The Skerries – Wigsley. The crew was briefed to fly at a height between 18,000 and 20,000 feet and at an air speed of 160 knots. At 1643 hours the aircraft was given a diversion, and this was acknowledged. At 1658 hours the presumed position of ME 440 was in the vicinity of Tudwells, approximately 6 miles south of Pwllheli, Wales. A further message was sent to the aircraft at 1706 hours but this was not acknowledged. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft and it did not return to base. Following post war enquiries and investigations, it was recorded in 1949 that the missing crew had lost their lives at sea.
(courtesy of Highgate RSL Western Australia)
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