PICKUP, Laurence Francis
| Service Number: | 413419 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Leading Aircraftman |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Quirindi, Liverpool Plains - New South Wales, Australia, 8 March 1916 |
| Home Town: | Randwick, Randwick, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Air Crash in training - lost at sea, Cape Willoughby South Australia, Australia, Off South Australian Coast, Australia, 3 June 1942, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" At Sea, Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cape Willoughby RAAF Arvo Anson W2435 Crash Site, Sydney Memorial (Sydney War Cemetery) Rookwood |
World War 2 Service
| 17 Aug 1941: | Enlisted 413419 | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 413419 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement Leading Aircraftman, 413419, Empire Air Training Scheme |
Lost at sea - air crash in training
On Wednesday 3rd Jun 1942, an Avro Anson from 6 Service Flying Training School, Mallala, W2435; ditched into the sea.
REPORTS:
Official: Summary:
At approximately 1900 hours, Anson W2435 under the command of Sgt Cassidy; whilst on a navigation exercise ditched into the sea about 1 mile SSE of the Cape Willoughby lighthouse. Reports indicate that the aircraft drifted further out to sea and sank. No bodies or wreckage were recovered, unable to determine the cause of the incident.
Eyewitness:
The plane sounded like it was losing power, spluttering a bit. It disappeared from my sight but I thought I heard a noise like something whooshing into the sea. A mate told me later that he could see it bobbing around out to sea, then it was gone. Apparently the lighthouse keeper saw it go down, boats went out but nothing was found by our people; I don't know if the Air Force blokes or police found - Read more...
Built
Opened
Inscription
SYDNEY MEMORIAL
Panels to the crew of W2435 are located at Sydney War Cemetery in the grounds of the Rookwood Necropolis. The panels are to recognise (amongst others) those who perished and their remains not recovered. The inscription on a continuous frieze on the memorial states:
1939-HERE ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO DIED IN THE EASTERN AND SOUTHERN REGIONS OF AUSTRALIA, ON LAND, AT SEA, AND IN THE AIR, BUT TO WHOM THE FORTUNE OF WAR DENIED THE KNOWN AND HONOURED BURIAL GIVEN TO THEIR COMRADES IN DEATH-1945
Condition
View Tributes of Honour Description
Submitted 2 November 2015 by Steve Larkins
Biography
See Story for circumstances of death
Son of Ainsworth James Pickup and Mary Jane Pickup, of Randwick, New South Wales.