CRASH OF A SEAGULL
INTO LAKE MACQUARIE NEAR RATHMINES, NSW
ON 5 MARCH 1942

On 5 March 1942, an RAAF Seagull aircraft from 9 Squadron RAAF crashed into Lake Macquarie near the Airmen's Mess at Rathmines. The pilot, Sergeant Pickering, was killed.

Corporal S. Cummings was awarded the British Empire Medal for his efforts in the salvage of this aircraft.

The following information is from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission home page:-

In Memory of

THOMAS FREDERICK PICKERING

Sergeant (411376), Royal Australian Air Force, who died on Thursday, 5th March 1942. Age 22.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. N. V. Pickering, of Coogee. C. of E. Plot .Sec

Cemetery: BOTANY GENERAL CEMETERY, 94, 12
Grave Reference/Panel Number:  C.C. Grave 203.

REFERENCE BOOKS

Newton, John, "RAAF Rathmines", 1977

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Barry Pattison for his assistance with this home page.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 23 January 2001

This page last updated 27 January 2020