Walsh J J (John Joseph)
Flight Sergeant John Joseph Walsh was the son of John Joseph and Mary Madeline Walsh, of Enfield, New South Wales, Australia.
On the 5th of November 1943, a Vickers Wellington Bomber,[1] LB247 took off from RAF Limavady. It was carrying out a training exercise in which they were to perform crew torpedo attacks on ships in the area.
Just after taking off at around 1600 hours the bomber experienced a sudden change in weather, making him take to wide a circle. He then struck high ground. Flight Sergeant John Joseph Walsh was killed. Fortunately, though the other members of the crew survived. The injured crew members were RAAF Flying Officer W. McFadden (Instructor), Flying Officer W T K Dickson (Captain and Pupil Pilot), Pilot Officer O H Jennie (2nd Pilot), Flying Officer L F McInnes (Navigator), Flight Sergeant H Williams (Wireless Air Gunner) and Flight Sergeant E Smythe (Wireless Air Gunner). The blame was laid on the instructor due to his inexperience and a sudden frontal condition that made the pupil pilot lose sight of land.
Flight Sergeant John Joseph Walsh was laid to rest with a full military funeral.
Date of Death: 05/11/1943
Service: Flight Sergeant, 7 Operational Training Unit, Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 422770
Burial Location: Grave 5.
[1] The Vickers Wellington was a twin engines long range bomber, that made its maiden flight during June 1936, finally going into service October 1938.