CRASH OF AN AVRO ANSON
AT GEORGINA AIRFIELD, WA
ON 21 JULY 1943

Avro Anson R-3550 of 4 Service Flying Training School (4 SFTS) at Geraldton, Western Australia struck a tree during takeoff from Georgina Satellite Airfieldat 1745 hours E.S.T. on 21 July 1943 and lost portion of its tail unit. The aircraft crashed approximately 150 yards away on the southern boundary of the airfield.

The crew were as follows:-

Flight Lieutenant Clemence Friedrich Nitschke (407300) - killed
Leading Aircraftsman Lawrence Henry Clarke (427845) - killed
Flying Officer David Maxwell Crawford (411751) - died of injuries within 6 hours
Leading Aircraftsman Ivan Chester (429693) - dangerously injured and died of his injuries within 6 hours
Leading Aircraftsman J.P. Bird (436394?) - slightly injured, fractured right arm and left wrist and lacerations

F/Lt Nitschke, the Assistant Chief Flying Instructor, was conducting Wings Tests and was about to test LAC Clarke. The aircraft carried out an apparently normal take off, was held down to gain S/E flying speed and then started to climb. It collided with trees on the upwind boundary just after starting to climb damaging the starboard main plane and tail plane, swung to the right in a climbing turn and crashed approximately 150 yards away.

The probable cause of the accident was listed on the "Preliminary Report (External) of Flying accident or Forced Landing" as being "Poor Airmanship".

The deceased were given a Service Funeral and were buried in the War Graves Section of the Utakarra Cemetery at Geraldton on 23 July 1943.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 16 February 2014

This page last updated 03 February 2020