OLDHAM, Edward Murray
| Service Number: | 402749 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 October 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 1 Service Flying Training School |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia , 1 March 1917 |
| Home Town: | Wollstonecraft, North Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Church of England Grammar School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Irish Sea, 27 March 1942, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England, United Kingdom Panel 113 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Nar Nar Goon Vacuum Oil Company Pty Ltd. Honour Roll, Runnymede Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Sergeant, 402749 | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Oct 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 402749 | |
| 14 Oct 1940: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 2 Recruit Depot (RAAF), Enlisting as aircrew (Pilot) | |
| 7 Dec 1940: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School Narromine, Pilot training | |
| 20 Aug 1941: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, No. 1 Service Flying Training School , with Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as Airman Pilot. | |
| 27 Aug 1941: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 402749, No. 1 Service Flying Training School , from RCAF Halifax to 131 Squadron (UK) to fly the Spitfire aircraft. |
Help us honour Edward Murray Oldham's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Grant Prunster
Source: https://www.ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/in-memoriam-those-air-force-pilots-crews-who-died-on-this-day-in-ww2.18267/page-27#google_vignette
NAA : A705, 163/148/206
Aircraft Type: Spitfire
Serial number: BL 249
Radio call sign:
Unit: 131 Sqn RAF
Summary:
Spitfire BL 249 of 131 (County of Kent) Sqn RAF took off at 1405 hours on 27 March 1942 to carry out a convoy patrol. The aircraft was returning to base after the patrol in company with another aircraft. Whilst over the sea in the vicinity of the Isle of Man, BL 249 broke away from its leader when both were trying to establish R/T communications with base. BL 249 was not seen again and it did not return to base.
It was thought that a contributory reason was that it may have been given an incorrect vector to steer back to base from its last known position, and that the aircraft may have been given a course to steer which directed it towards the middle of the Irish Sea.
Crew:
RAAF 402749 Sgt Oldham, E M (Pilot)