Earl Hume's Story.
Sergeant Earl Hume BEATSONService No: 435557
Born: Bundaberg QLD, 6 October 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 9 June 1943
Unit: No. 27 Operational Training Unit, RAF Lichfield, Staffordshire
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 27 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft LP437), Staffordshire, 30 July 1944, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Chester (Blacon) Cemetery, Cheshire
CWGC Additional Information:
Youngest son of Hume Johnstone Beatson and Elise Helene Amelia Beatson, of Nambour, Queensland, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Nambour QLD
Remembered: Panel 118, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Wellington LP437 took off from RAF Station Lichfield, on a non-operational training flight on 30th July 1944, and crashed near Stafford at 0410 hours. The aircraft was trying to land in bad weather and crashed at Doxey Wood farm, Thorney Fields Lane off Newport road, Staffordshire approximately 15 kms south west of Stafford. All on board were killed. The aircraft was on a night bombing exercise and was diverted to Hixon from base owing to bad visibility at base. Hixon then diverted the aircraft to Seighford where an attempt was made to land. Flight Sergeant Manners was attached to No 46 Squadron RAF. The other 5 crew members were attached to 27 Operational Training Unit RAF.
The crew members of LP437 were:
Sergeant Earl Hume Beatson (435557) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Ray Kethel Bolger (430243) (Navigator)
Flight Sergeant Jack James Manners (436249) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant John Hilary Normyle (432627) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Hugh Alexander Smyth (44993) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Frederick Luckman Stephens (424927) (Pilot)
Earl did not receive a campaign medal because he never got to serve on active duty and he didn’t receive a British Defence medal because he served less than one year with the RAAF.
Memorial in Nambour Queensland where Earl is remembered
Funeral Service of LP 437 crew at Blacon Cemetery
Notification to Earl's family regarding medal issue