CRASH OF A BRISTOL BEAUFORT
AT EAST SALE, VIC
ON 6 SEPTEMBER 1943

RAAF Mark V Bristol Beaufort, A9-45, ground looped at East Sale, Victoria on 6 September 1943, when the port tyre blew out on take-off, causing the starboard undercarriage to collapse. The pilot of the aircraft was Flight Lieutenant 28 year old Geoffrey Norman Reeve who was tragically killed in Beaufort A9-303 on 13 September 1943. Sgt Leslie Lloyd Giles was also a crew member in A9-45 and was killed with Reeve in A9-303.

Beaufort A9-45 was originally delivered to the RAAF in May 1942. It was "not taken up". It was converted to components after the crash.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I'd like to thank Rick Hanning for his assistance with the above information. I'd like to thank Jason Stagg for providing the information on Sgt Leslie Lloyd Giles. I'd also like to thank Kim Fawkes.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 7 March 2000

This page last updated 22 February 2020