Dear Monument Australia visitors, we are a self-funded, non-profit organisation, dedicated to recording monuments throughout Australia. Over time the costs of maintaining this website have risen substantially (in fact they are probably larger than those of many companies who exist for profit). In the past we have borne all the costs associated with maintaining the website but we are now having difficulties in paying the monthly expenses.
If Monument Australia is useful to you, please make a donation to keep this historical and educational resource available. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Home » Themes » Conflict » World War Two
Avro Anson MemorialPrint Page 
An aircraft engine commemorates Royal Australian Air Force servicemen and women, and four airmen killed when an Avro Anson crashed into Lake Albert in 1942.
Three RAAF personnel were killed and five others are reported missing following forced descents made late on Wednesday by two aircraft, one on the sea a mile off Cape Willoughby, Kangaroo Island, and the other on Lake Albert, at the mouth of the River Murray. The first report was that one aircraft had made a forced landing on the sea and was still drifting. Shipping was warned to keep a look out, and other aircraft assisted in the search, but the plane was not located. The second crash was reported by a volunteer, who stated that the aircraft had crashed in a forced landing at night on the lake. Causes of both accidents are obscure.
Occupants of the plane landing in the sea, all of whom are missing, were:—
Sgt. Frederick Reginald Cassidy, 24, pilot single, of Brisbane.
Sgt.Kenneth Walter Hailey, 20, observer, single, of Brisbane.
Sgt. David Roderick Stewart, 28. wireless airgunner, single,of Brisbane.
LAC Lawrence Francis Pickup. 26. passenger, single, of Randwick,NSW.
Occupants of the plane which crashed in Lake Albert were:—
Sgt. Graeme Yeoman Wadlow, 21, pilot, single, of Kirribilli, NSW, killed.
Sgt. Finlay Emmerson Anderson,19, observer, single, of Benalla, killed.
Sgt. Joseph Gray Myers, 25, wireless air missing. gunner, married,of Ballina, NSW,
LAC William Stanley Butler, 21, passenger, single, of Young, NSW, killed.
Advertiser (Adelaide), 8 June 1942.
Location
| Address: | Princes Highway, Meningie Memorial Park, Meningie, 5264 |
|---|---|
| State: | SA |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -35.687562 Long: 139.338075 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Technology |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Conflict |
| Sub-Theme: | WW2 |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 03-June-1942 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 03-June-1942 |
Dedication
Avro Anson Memorial
To the memory of all RAAF service men and women and the crew of RAAF Avro Anson No. W2370 which crashed into Lake Albert 3 June 1942.
SGT. Finlay Emmerson Anderson SGT. Joseph Gray Myers
LAC William Stanley Butler SGT. Graeme Yeoman Wadlow
Avro Anson Mk 1.
Entered service 1936
Crew 3-4
Wingspan 17.22 m
Length 12.88 m
Cruising speed 256 km/h
Maximum speed 302 km.h
Range 1062 kms
Bomb load 163kg
Armament Two .303 machine guns, one fixed in nose & one in dorsal turret.
The Anson was the RAAF`s first low wing monoplane, the first to have a retracable undercarriage and the first to have an enclosed gun turret
The design of the shelter for this engine is based on the of a Nissen hut, which was widely used by Australian Forces during the Second World War.
