VON DER GROEBEN, Richard Arthur
| Service Number: | 404793 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 November 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 50 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 18 September 1916 |
| Home Town: | Gladstone, Gladstone, Queensland |
| Schooling: | East Brisbane State & Brisbane Grammar Schools, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Accidental Air Crash, Shelford, England, 13 July 1942, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Shelford Cemetery, Victoria Grave ref. 6 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 8 Nov 1940: | Enlisted Brisbane | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Nov 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 404793, No. 50 Squadron (RAF) | |
| 13 Jul 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 404793, No. 50 Squadron (RAF), Empire Air Training Scheme |
Air Speed Oxford V3874
Air Speed Oxford I V3874
On the 13th Jul 1942, Oxford Serial number: V3874 from 1654 CU, took off from RAF Wigsley, detailed to carry out a non-operational high level bombing exercise. The aircraft crashed at 1320 hours when it flew into trees near Gunthorpe, seven miles East North East from the centre of Nottingham, UK. All the crew of three were killed. The aircraft was returning from the exercise on the Clifton Pastures Bombing range, when it crashed. An Inquiry later found that the accident was the result of “unauthorised low flying.”
Crew:
Pilot; Sgt Leslie Arnold Jonathan Dobie 1000600 RAF is buried in the Bebington Cemetery, UK
A/Bmr/WOp, AG; Sgt John Robert Warren 1184333 RAF is buried in the Idridgehay (St James) Churchyard, UK
A/Bmr/WOp, AG; Sgt Richard Arthur Von Der Groeben 404793 RAAF is buried in the Shelford (St Peter & St Paul) Churchyard Extension, Shelford, near Newton, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Submitted 19 July 2019 by David Potter
Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Richard Arthur VON DER GROEBEN was born on 18th Sept. 1916 in Brisbane, Queensland
His parents were Robert Arthur VON DER GROEBEN and Ruby Olive BUCKBY who married in Queensland in 1914
He enlisted with the RAAF on 8th November 1940
Richard died in an air accident on 13th July 1942 in England and is buried in St Peter and St Paul Churchyard Extension, Shelford, Nottinghamshire, UK - Posting at discharge was with the 50 Squadron where he was a Sergeant - Service No. 404793
He is listed on the Australian War Memorial and the Roll of Honour in Brisbane.
COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES
MEMORIAL PAGE & Cemetery information
http://www.raafdb.com/view_casualty.asp?id=10851 (www.raafdb.com)
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