TOWNSEND, Charles Richard
| Service Number: | 406964 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 May 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Maylands, Western Australia, 15 July 1918 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Perth Modern School, Western Australia 1932-34 |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Flying Battle, North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, 13 March 1943, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial, Runnymede Memorial, Subiaco Perth Modern School WW2 Honour Board |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Sergeant, 406964 | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 May 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 406964 |
Help us honour Charles Richard Townsend's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Geoff Tilley
Charles Richard Townsend was born in July 1918 at Maylands to parents Charles George and Ellen Townsend. He had two brothers and two sisters.
Charles attended his schooling at Midland Junction Central and Perth Modern School. He completed his junior certificate in 1933 at University of Western Australia. He conducted further education with WA Railway Tramway Institute in telegraphy in 1938.
Charles conducted military service joining the Western Command Signals attached to the wireless section whilst he was employed by the WA Government Railways as a clerk. His sporting interests where football, cricket, swimming, and basketball.
Charles enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at Perth in May 1941 for aircrew. He conducted his initial training at Pearce where he was then sent to No 2 Air Observer’s School at Mount Gambier in South Australia. His training was continued in Victoria where in June 1942 he received his wings as a Navigator/Bomber.
Charles embarked for overseas service in June 1942 to England, where he was attached to No 199 Squadron, Royal Air Force. (RAF) in February 1943 where the squadron operated twin engine Vickers Wellington bombers from RAF Blyton, Lincolnshire.
It was on the evening of 12th/13th March 1943 that Charles was a crew member of Wellington Bomber serial number HZ262, radio call sign EX-E took off from Ingham for operations over the city of Essen, Germany. Nothing further was heard from the bomber after take-off and it did not return to base.
It was later discovered that the bomber was hit by flak crashing into the English Channel off the coast of Holland with the loss of all aircrew. The body of one crew members was later recovered on Dutch coast. Charles along with the three other crew members remain missing, presumed having lost their lives at sea.
Sergeant Charles Richard Townsend, service number 406964 RAAF, attached to No 199 Squadron RAF was lost without trace on air operations on the 13th March 1943 over the North Sea. He was 24 years of age.
Charles has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Surry, England. He is remembered with honour.
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