COLLISION OF TWO AVRO ANSONS
AT GERALDTON, WA
ON 9 FEBRUARY 1943

On 9 February 1943, two Avro Ansons of 4 Service Flying Training School (4SFTS) RAAF collided at Geraldton airfield in Western Australia at 1655 hours W.A.S.T.. Two RAAF personnel, LAC Colin Wright and Flt. Lt. Robert Cecil Spicer (406190) in Avro Anson W2129 were killed as a result of this collision. They were taking off from Geraldton airfield when another Avro Anson W1938 landed on top of them. Their Memorial Panel No at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra is No. 117.

Pupil pilot LAC Lawrence John Betts (427287) in Avro Anson W1938 suffered from shock after the accident. Avro Anson W2129 was a probable write off as a result of the accident.

In Memory of

COLIN CHARLES HORTON WRIGHT

Leading Aircraftman
427368
Royal Australian Air Force
who died on
Tuesday, 9th February 1943. Age 18.

Son of Charles and Constance Wright, of South Perth.

Cemetery: GERALDTON WAR CEMETERY, Western Australia, Australia

Grave Reference/ Panel Number: Plot A. Row A. Grave 7.

In Memory of

ROBERT CECIL SPICER

Flight Lieutenant
406190
Royal Australian Air Force
who died on
Tuesday, 9th February 1943. Age 24.

Son of Charles Henry and Christina Spicer; husband of Florence Mary Spicer, of Claremont.

Cemetery: GERALDTON WAR CEMETERY, Western Australia, Australia
Grave Reference/Panel Number: Plot A. Row A. Grave 6.

Subject:     WA CRASH SITES
Date:             Mon, 10 Jul 2000 20:35:06 +0800
From:           "laurie baker" <lbaker@wantree.com.au>

Dear Peter,

Congratulations on a great website, being a west aussie I found the information very interesting.

My father is an ex pilot of the second world war and trained at Geraldton in Western Australia and just prior to arriving at the station (Feburary 1943) one of his primrary school classmates by the name of Colin Wright and from his memory the instructor was flight LT Nitschie (or was it Flt. Lt. Robert Spicer?) were killed at the base.

The incident occurred when they were about to take off in their Anson when another Anson landed on top of them, My father does not recall the precise day, however it appears you have no records of this event. They are both buried in the cemetery between Geraldton and Geraldton airport.

If I can be of any further assistance please advise.

Regards Laurie Baker

P.S. My father flew with 467 Squadron from Waddington near Lincoln in PO S Sugar which is now housed in the British aviation museum in Hendon.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to than John Moremon 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 11 July 2000

This page last updated 03 February 2020