COLLISION OF TWO WIRRAWAYS
NEAR MILDURA AIRFIELD, VIC
ON 13 FEBRUARY 1945

At approximately 1335 hours on 13 February 1945, Wirraway A20-650 and Wirraway A20-175 collided whilst engaged in a line astern chase exercise. At approximately 7,500 feet, while executing a slow roll, A20-650 collided with A20-175, piloted by Sergeant John Cecil Thomas Read (443570). The port wing of A20-175 struck the underside of the starboard wing of A20-650, causing A20-650 to develop a steep spiral dive, striking the ground at high speed. It caught fire on impact and was destroyed killing the pilot Sergeant Ronald Stewart Young (443716). The port main plane of A20-175 was damaged but the pilot managed to land the aircraft at Mildura Airfield.

REFERENCES

Wirraway A20 Accidents, NAA file Page 41

2 Operational Training Unit ORB, NAA File, Page 411

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 3 July 2022

This page last updated 03 July 2022