COLLISION OF TWO SPITFIRES
NEAR MANTON DAM, NT
ON 26 SEPTEMBER 1943
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

Flying Officer John Phillip Adam (404491) of 452 Squadron RAAF took off in Spitfire A58-121 (EE677) at 0745 hours on 26 September 1943 as White 3 in a formation of four aircraft to carry out Flight Formation, Army Co-operation and Camera Gunnery exercises with Flying Officer Granville Allen Mawer (403112) of 452 Squadron RAAF as Troppo 43 in Spitfire A58-201 (JL314).

F/O Granville Mawer as Troppo 43 made an attack from the rear on White Section which was flying in line abreast formation Southward in the vicinity of Manton Dam at approximately, 2,000 feet. He passed below the formation and flew south at approximately 500 feet.

White 1, Flight Lieutenant Adrian Philip Goldsmith (402500) followed and proceed to take camera gun film of him. F/O Adam then attacked F/O Mawer out of the sun from 8 o'clock position wile White 1 moved to starboard to allow plenty of room. F/O Adam closed well in and then pulled to starboard. At the same time F/O Mawer, unaware of F/O Adam's presence, commenced a steep climbing turn to starboard. His port wing struck F/O Adam's port wing and both wings broke off at about six feet from the tip at about 0800 hours.

Both aircraft commenced to roll out of control, crashed into the bush and burst into flames. Both pilots were killed.

F/O Adam was buried with full military honours in Adelaide River War Cemetery at 1700 hours on 26 September 1942 in the presence of F/Lt A. P. Goldsmith DFC, DFM, temporary Commanding Officer of No. 452 squadron RAAF and other officers and airmen of the squadron. Chaplain A. H. Mitchell conducted the Service. F/O Adam's grave number is F.C.8.

REFERENCES

Spitfire Association - FLGOFF John Phillip Adam 404491

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Chris Adam for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 8 August 2020

This page last updated 08 August 2020