CRASH OF AN AVRO ANSON
AT EVERSLEY, MOUNT COLE, VIC
ON 21 MAY 1942
Avro Anson
At about 1030 hours E.S.T. Avro Anson W2020 of No. 2 Air Observer School, Mount Gambier, South Australia appeared to have hit a tree during a period of poor visibility and crashed near Eversley, Mount Cole, about 15 miles from Ararat, in Victoria. Four of the crew were killed and one received a broken arm. The aircraft was a complete write off.
KILLED
Pilot Officer George William Holman (409119), 32, of Brighton (Vic)
Flight Sergeant Edward Hope Illingworth (406619), 22, single, of Narrogin (S.A.)
Sergeant. Denis Aloysius Lenihan (416435), 31, single, of Gilberton (S.A,)
Leading Aircraftman Edwin Cyril Snell (414269), 25, of Brisbane (Q.)
INJURED
LAC Arthur Edward Pott (405932) - Trainee - in Ararat Hospital a broken arm
Steve Hardy's father used to speak of a RAAF twin engine plane from RAAF Ballarat crashing into Mt Ben Nevis about 20ks east of Ararat during WWII.
The Canberra Times Saturday 23 May 1942
FOUR KILLED IN
PLANE CRASH
MELBOURNE, Friday, A pilot officer and three airmen were killed and a trainee injured when an R.A.A.F. plane from a South Australian training school crashed at Eversley, near Mt. Cole. Those killed were Pilot Officer George William Holman, 32, of Bright on (Vic), Flight Sergeant Edward Hope Illingworth, 22, single, of Narrogin (S.A.), Sergt. Denis Alloysius Lenihan, 31, single, of Gilberton (S.A,),and Leading Aircraftman Edwin Cyril Snell, 25, of Brisbane (Q.) Leading Aircraftman Arthur Edward Potts, 22, single, of Bowen (Q.) sustained a broken arm and was admitted to Ararat Hospital. The cause of the accident is obscure and is being investigated by the R.A.A.F. Inspectorate of Aircraft Acci-dent. Holman was born at Leeds (Eng.) He received instruction at the Mo? State school and at the Brighton secondary school. Prior to enlistment in July, 1941, he was an accountant. Illingworth enlisted in February 1941, and received his training in Western and South Australia. Prior to enlistment he was a clerk. Lenihan was a wireless navigator and prior to enlistment had experience as a jackeroo, mechanic and dealer in live stock. He was educated at the Christian Brothers' College, Strathfield. Snell was a bank officer before enlistment. He joined the R.A.A.F. in August and was trained in Queensland New South Wales and South Australia. He was educated at the Church of England Grammar School. Potts was also a bank clerk, He joined the R.A.A.F. in June and was trained in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I'd like to thank Rick Hanning and Steve Hardy? for their assistance with this web page.
Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?
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This page first produced 15 November 1999
This page last updated 03 February 2020