CRASH OF AN AVRO ANSON
AT GLENBROOK, NSW
ON 28 JANUARY 1941

Avro Anson

On 28 January 1941, RAAF Avro Anson A4-5 of No. 1 Air Navigation School RAAF Parkes crashed at Glenbrook in New South Wales during a medical evacuation flight from Parkes to Mascot airfield in Sydney. Glenbrook is located in the Blue Mountains area near Penrith.

The crew of four and the patient were all killed in this tragic accident:-

Pilot Officer John Ignatius Newman (819) - pilot
Flying Officer Henry Theodore Skillman (625) - navigator
Aircraftsman Charles Richard Tysoe (5922) - wireless operator
Squadron Leader James Manning Rainbow - medical officer
Pilot Officer Bailey Middlebrook Sawyer (1704) - patient

Monument located in Clifton Avenue, Glenbrook near the corner of Lucasville Road.

Details on the monument

I was contacted by Denis Bainbridge, the President of the Glenbrook & District Historical Society Inc., on 15 October 2020 who advised that the Society have upgraded the memorial at the corner of Clilfton Avenue and Lucasville Road Glenbrook. See photo below. The new memorial stone and plaque were rededicated on 28 January 2021, the 80th Anniversary of this tragic accident. RAAF Glenbrook conducted the service. A replica plate was added to the Glenbrook War memorial on ANZAC Day 2019. See photo below.

Photo:- Denis Bainbridge

New Memorial Stone and Plaque

Photo:- Denis Bainbridge

The replica plaque at the Glenbrook War Memorial

Photo:- Denis Bainbridge

A close-up of the above memorial plaque at the Glenbrook War Memorial

REFERENCES

Glenbrook RAAF Avro Anson Air Crash January 28, 1941, Rev 4

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Wing Commander Malcolm Selkirk and Denis Bainbridge, the President of the Glenbrook & District Historical Society Inc. for their assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 4 June 2002

This page last updated 17 October 2020