CRASH OF AN AVRO ANSON
AT MALLALA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
ON 21 JULY 1943

Avro Anson W2256 of 6 Service Flying Training School RAAF, Mallala (6SFTS) crashed 1 1/2 miles north east of Mallala Airfield, South Australia at 0100 hours E.S.T. on 21 July 1943 during a night cross country flight whilst attempting to land in heavy fog. LAC Colin Walter Cook (427803) of 6SFTS was seriously injured in this crash and subsequently died on 22 July 1943.

LAC Cook had earlier taken off at 2143 hours on 20 July 1943. At approximately 2245 hours a dense fog rolled in very quickly to a height of 300 feet. There were six aircraft still out on cross country exercises after the fog rolled in. The pilots all had difficulty finding the airfield. The flare paths were invisible from above 150 feet. Anson W2256 and one other aircraft were missing all night. The pilot of the other aircraft telephoned the unit the next morning at 0715 hours advising that he had landed safely south east of the airfield.

Once the fog had lifted at approximately 0930 hours the next morning, aircraft began searching for Anson W2256 which was soon located close to the airfield, a total wreck. The pilot, LAC Cook, suffering from a fracture of the left thigh, contusions of the face and head, and shock, had been forced to spend the night jammed in his badly smashed cockpit. He was removed from the cockpit at approximately 1100 hours and sent to 6SFTS Sick Quarters. He developed hemorrhage of the brain the following day and subsequently passed away at 1335 hours on 22 July 1943.

21 year old LAC Colin Cook was interred at Mallala Cemetery on 23 July 1943.

NOTE:- The NAA File on LAC Cook's loss in an Avro Anson incorrectly shows the Anson Serial No as AW262. This should be shown as W2256. The Crash Reports for W2256 held in NAA also show the month incorrectly as August in a number of locations. This should be July.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Michael Musumeci 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 18 December 2016

This page last updated 02 February 2020