| Accession Number | P05744.004 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia |
| Date made | c 1942 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Informal portrait of 413748 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Patrick John Edwards, RAAF, of Cardiff, ...
Description
Informal portrait of 413748 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Patrick John Edwards, RAAF, of Cardiff, NSW. Following training in Australia, he was posted to No 466 Squadron RAAF and was killed, aged 21, whilst on operations on 20 December 1943. Flt Sgt Edwards was piloting Halifax HX273 which took off from RAF Leconfield at 1648 hours on the night of 20/21st December 1943 to bomb Frankfurt, Germany. Sixteen aircraft from the Squadron took part in the raid and two of these including HX273 failed to return. It was later established that the aircraft crashed, Flt Sgt Edwards was killed and all the other crew members were taken POW. Flt Sgt Edwards is buried in the Hannover War Cemetery, Germany. In a 1945 statement one of the crew, 409226 Flt Sgt Ralph Spencer Parsons, reported “A night fighter attacked after we bombed the target, setting the inner engine and wing on fire. The Captain ordered bale out after an unsuccessful attempt to extinguish the fire. All the crew were uninjured and acknowledged. I baled out first at 12,000 feet with the aircraft diving steeply and out of control. I estimate the A/c crashed approx 20/30 miles north east of Frankfurt. Five others baled out OK and have met them. I presume the Pilot was still in the plane when it crashed."