CRASH OF AN AVRO ANSON
NEAR PARHAM ON EAST COAST OF ST. VINCENT'S GULF, SA
ON 14 JULY 1943

Avro Anson

Avro Anson W-2556 of 6 Service Flying Training School (6 SFTS) at Mallala, SA crashed near Parham on the east coast of St. Vincent's Gulf, in South Australia on 14 July 1943. It was reported missing during a test flight with the following crew members reported as missing and eventually presumed dead:-

F/O John Frederick Pettit (406662)
Corporal James Denis Horrigan (27786)
LAC Donald Beresford Tucker (59315)
AC1 Desmond Whenan (116182)
AC1 John Vincent Colin Matheson (45971)

The aircraft was being tested after a 240 hourly inspection. It took off from Mallala airfield with no records of its movements. An aerial search discovered traces of wreckage on a beach near Parham on the eastern side of St. Vincent's Gulf on the afternoon of 15 July 1943. The first land search found small pieces of aircraft wing tip with lettering which identified the aircraft. The search continued, but only small pieces of flotsam were recovered.

Photo:- via his niece

LAC Donald Beresford Tucker (59315)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Trinity Hook for her assistance with this web page. Trinity is the great grand daughter of John Vincent Colin Matheson who was tragically killed in this crash.

I would like to hear from family members of  those killed in this tragic crash

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 21 January 2009

This page last updated 02 February 2020