4 MAY 1944
CRASH OF A WIRRAWAY
IN THE TOLGA AREA

visits since 9 February 1999

Wirraway

RAAF Wirraway, A20-513, of 5 Squadron, based in Mareeba, crashed on 4 May 1944 in the Tolga area, killing Flying Officer P.T. Jeffery and Flying Officer F.A. Mitchell.  They were both subsequently buried at the Atherton War Cemetery.

Subject:    Tolga Wirraway crash, A20-513.
Date:             Tue, 02 Nov 1999 21:48:09 +1000
From:           "Steve Fowler" <sfowler@internetnorth.com.au>

Dear Peter,

Just taking a break from my assignments and thought that I would send you something on the Wirraway that crashed near Tolga. The aircraft was A20-513 of 5 Sqn, which at the time was based at Mareeba. The aircraft crashed at 1530hrs on the 4th May 1944 while on a familiarisation flight, killing the pilot Flying Officer F.A. Mitchell (416359) and Flying Officer Percy T. Jeffrey who was the Wireless Operator/Observer. The confirmatory memorandum indicates that an eye-witness stated; "...the engine cut-out, the aircraft wobbled several times and then spun to earth." The funeral service was held at the Military Section of the Atherton Cemetery the following day at 1500hrs and Army Padre Hall from the 2/6 Australian General Hospital at Rocky Creek conducted the Service.

Percy Jeffrey had enlisted in the R.A.A.F. on the 3rd September 1935 as a Wireless Telegraphist Operator and later remustered to Air Gunner and Air Observer and was then posted to 21 Sqn and sent to Singapore where he remained until returning to Australia in March 1942. He was then posted to 5 Squadron on the 23 March 1942 and then Commissioned on the 1st October of that year, he remained with the Squadron until his death. This information was supplied to me by his daughter Fran James who I have had the pleasure to correspond with.

At this stage I have little information on the pilot F.A. Mitchell.

Trusting that this may be of help.

Regards
Stephen R. Fowler

REFERENCE BOOK

"Diary of WWII - North Queensland"
Complied by Peter Nielsen

"Aircraft of the RAAF 1921- 71"
By Geoffrey Pentland & Peter Malone

Heaps of WW2 books available at Amazon.com

This page first produced 9 February 1999

This page last updated 04 April 2002