CRASH OF A BRISTOL BEAUFORT
7 MILES FROM SWAN REACH
ON 15 MARCH 1943

Bristol Beaufort

RAAF Mark VI Bristol Beaufort, A9-81, of 1OTU, crashed 7 miles from Swan Reach, north west of Lakes Entrance, during a searchlight practice exercise on 15 March 1943.

The crew were all killed. They were as follows:-

P/O Douglas Connell (413827) (pilot)
Sgt. Stuart Edward Marsden (412559) (wireless air gunner)
Sgt. Frederick Edward Blatchford (401734) (navigator)
Sgt. Neville Roy Dawson (412233) (wireless air gunner)

This aircraft was originally delivered to the RAAF in July 1942.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I'd like to thank Rick Hanning for his assistance with the above information. I'd also like to thank John Keane of Hughesdale, who sent me the above photograph of the crash site on 3 April 2000. John is a Historic Researcher, specialising in WW2 Aircraft.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 8 March 2000

This page last updated 22 February 2020