ROBERTSON, Charles Duncan
| Service Number: | 406733 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 March 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 73 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, 17 April 1922 |
| Home Town: | Kojonup, Kojonup, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Guildford Grammar School |
| Occupation: | Wool Trade |
| Died: | Accidental, Ulladulla, New South Wales, Ulladulla, New South Wales, Australia, 9 September 1943, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Nowra War Cemetery Grave B. A. 11, Nowra War Cemetery, Nowra, New South Wales, Australia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kojonup RSL War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 31 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 406733, Perth, Western Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 406733 | |
| 1 Apr 1941: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 406733 | |
| 9 Sep 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 406733, No. 73 Squadron (RAAF) |
Avro Ansen accident
Charles (pilot) died along with F/sgt Douglas Higgins(wireless operator) and F/sgt Kieth Richards (navigator) in the crash of Avro Ansen aircraft on 9 Sep 1943. The wreck is still located on the eastern side of Pigeon House mountain. Hard to find, all that is left is a few pieces of the fuselage and the two radial engines in a steep gully. The cause of the crash was most likely an assumption that they were clear to the east of the high ground heading north back to the norwa airfield at 1000 feet in cloud. The aircraft struck the trees with power still applied to both engines. A depth charge broke free of its mount and exploded. This information is from memory of a project I supervised in the 1990s where naval aircrew trainees were tasked to research and locate the wreckage. Information was researched from the official accident files and the site was located and visited by the trainees.
Submitted 17 September 2017 by John Jones
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