FOUR members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) who tragically died after crashing their plane in the Riverland are being remembered 77 years later, thanks to a newly-unveiled memorial in Loxton.
The memorial, a scale model of an Avro Anson aircraft in a doomed dive located on Bookpurnong Terrace at the Mill Corner Historical Precinct, was unveiled at a ceremony last month attended by about 200 people, including RAAF personnel.
The ceremony included a RAAF catafalque party, the playing of the Last Post and the reciting of the Ode of Remembrance, and several speeches, including one from Loxton Waikerie Mayor Leon Stasinowsky.
Flying officer Lawrence Flynn, of Canberra, pilot officer Albert Rapp, of Victoria, sergeant John Bowman, of Western Australia, and sergeant Ray Obst, of Berri, had been on a training flight aboard an Avro Anson when they crashed in a paddock near Noora on September 24, 1943.
Loxton man Ray Edwards, who was 10 years old when the aircraft came down on his father’s property, said the unveiling was a “special day” and that people appreciated the memorial.
“It was quite a thrill to see the memorial be unveiled because I have been working on getting it there for two years,” he said.
“Originally I applied to council to put a plaque there and they wrote back saying that they didn’t think it was appropriate there.
“Myself, Peter Magarey and Kent Spangenberg then decided we’d do something ourselves.”
“That’s when I joined the Mardi Gras, where I have been a senior ambassador for the last two years promoting the Mill Corner Historical Precinct, and we eventually got this done.”
Wing commander Glenn Orton, who spoke on the day and led the catafalque party, said he was delighted to represent the air force and honour those who died.
“Flying officer Lawrence Flynn, pilot officer Albert Rapp, sergeant Ronald Obst and sergeant John Bowman were members of No. 2 Air Navigation School,” he said.
“They were everyday Australians serving their country.
“As we head towards our air force centenary year in 2021, it has never been more important to recognise the sacrifices of those who made this possible and connecting with local communities through our many community engagement initiatives.”
Next to the memorial is a plaque honouring the G for George Lancaster bomber.
G for George flew 91 missions over Germany during World War II, with Loxton man Harry Tickle serving as engineer throughout the plane’s service in the No. 460 squadron of
the RAAF.
Peter Magarey, of Loxton, said Mr Tickle’s children unveiled the plaque, alongside RAAF veteran Howard Hendrick, who also served in the No. 460 squadron.
“It was wonderful that Howard could be standing by to help unveil the G for George plaque,” he said.
“It was a very good community effort, very well received and very well intended.
“A lot of things tied together here, and I think it will be a feature for years to come in Loxton.”
Mr Magarey thanked people who had donated their time, including the McIntosh family who constructed the model Avro Anson.