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Royal Australian Air Force CrewsPrint Page Print this page

30-August-2011 (Graeme Saunders)
30-August-2011 (Graeme Saunders)

Photographs supplied by Neil Follett / Graeme Saunders
The monument commemorates the two aircrews of the Royal Australia Air Force who were killed in separate air crashes on Arthur's Seat, whilst undergoing training to prepare them for the defence of Australia.

Location

Address:Arthurs Seat Road, Viewing Tower, Arthurs Seat, 3936
State:VIC
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -38.353589
Long: 144.950818
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:WW2

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Wednesday 12th July, 1995
Front Inscription

Australia Remembers  1945 - 1995

This plaque was unveiled and dedicated on the 12th day of July 1995, being the 53rd anniversary of the crash of an RAAF Beaufort plane into Arthur's Seat. This monument is dedicated to the two aircrews who lost their lives in separate air crashes on Arthur's Seat, whilst undergoing training to prepare them for the defence of Australia.

At 9-45 am on the 10th August 1938, an Avro Anson A4-29 of No. 2 Squadron was flying in low cloud when it crashed into the north western face of Arthur's' Seat. The four crewmen killed were
P.O. Robert Stanley Symonds 22 of Eastwood, S.A. Pilot
Sgt. Pilot John McMahon Gillespie 26 of St. Kilda VIC,  Nav.
AC1 Ken­neth Campbell McKerrow 23 of Carnegie VIC, W.O.
AC1 Robert Windram Mawson of Turramurra N.S.W. Fitter

Mi­raculously AC1 James Glover 21 of Hawthorn VIC was in­jured but survived.
..........................................................................

At 7 a.m. on Sunday 12th July 1942 a Beaufort A9-64 flying in mist and low cloud just managed to clear the summit of the mountain and crashed in scrub­land south of the lookout tower. All crew members were killed they were

F.O. Robert (Terry) Elcoate 24 of Melbourne VIC.
Sgt. Dudley Merton Wehl 22 of Ca­pella QLD.
Sgt. James Robert Axon 22 of Brisbane QLD.
Sgt. Charles Martin Redgrave 31 of Grafton NSW.

A Dromana and District Historical Society Inc. Project 1995

 

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au