CRASH OF AN AVRO ANSON
NEAR GUNNING, NSW
50KMS NORTH OF CANBERRA
ON 14 APRIL 1942

On 14 April 1942, RAAF Avro Anson AX420 was on a routine training flight from Cootamundra to Blayney and back again. There were three trainee Air Observers on board. On the Goulburn to Blayney section of the flight the aircraft flew into some fog and low cloud. The Pilot Sergeant Bruce Walker decided to turn around and return to Cootamundra. Somewhere north of Gunning he lost altitude to find a break in the clouds to check his location. At that time the Avro Anson passed between two high hills into a steep gully. It crashed into the hill at the end of the gully.

The pilot and three trainees were all killed:-

Sgt. Bruce Edward Walker (411414) (Pilot)
Ivan Rodway "Pat" Rojahn (414263) (from Boonah, QLD)
Harold Malcolm Sauerbier (413902)
Allan Sidorenko (414297)

A Plaque commemorating the death of these four men was unveiled in the memorial grounds in Gunning on Remembrance Day in 1996.

The following information is from the Commonwealth War Graves Home Page:-

In Memory of

BRUCE EDMOND WALKER

Sergeant (411414)
Royal Australian Air Force
who died on Tuesday, 14th April 1942. Age 26.

Son of Horace George Findlay Walker and Ethel Drummond Walker, of Wahroonga. C. of E

Cemetery: COOTAMUNDRA WAR CEMETERY, New South Wales, Australia
Grave Reference/Panel Number: E. Plot. Sec. AA. Grave 218.

In Memory of

IVAN RODWAY ROJAHN

Leading Aircraftman (414263)
Royal Australian Air Force
who died on Tuesday, 14th April 1942. Age 22.

Son of Willy and Violet Edith Rojahn, of Boonah. Columbarium Wall 3. .Sec 5. Private D/Niche

Cemetery: MOUNT THOMPSON CREMATORIUM, Queensland, Australia
Grave Reference/Panel Number: 89.

In Memory of

HAROLD MALCOLM SAUERBIER

Leading Aircraftman (413902)
Royal Australian Air Force
who died on Tuesday, 14th April 1942. Age 32.

Husband of Sylvia Adelaide Sauerbier, of Coraki. C. of E

Cemetery: FIELD OF MARS CEMETERY, New South Wales, Australia
Grave Reference/Panel Number: E. Plot. Sec. 5. Grave 2507A.

In Memory of

ALLAN SIDORENKO

Leading Aircraftman (414297)
Royal Australian Air Force
who died on Monday, 13th April 1942. Age 28.

Son of Andrew and Prascovia Sidorenko, of East Warwick. C. of E. Portion.

Cemetery: WARWICK GENERAL CEMETERY, Queensland, Australia
Grave Reference/Panel Number: Sec. B. Grave 110.

REFERENCE BOOKS

"Time of War - The Boonah Shire Chronicles"
Edited by Frank Hampson

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 9 June 2001

This page last updated 27 January 2020