Airman's Memorial

On Thursday 20^th May 1943 at 0940 hours, a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Fairey Battle (L5640)  from No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery school  on a non-operational training flight crashed into a vacant block on Federation Road; immediately north of the Port Pirie Township.

Killed were: Sergeant Lessel John Hampstead 421805 - Pilot ; Leading Aircraftman Gordon Leslie Dore 46528 - Drogue Operator and Leading Aircraftman Aloysius Patrick Gilmore 116103 - Trainee Drogue Operator. Proceedings of the Court of Inquiry determined that the probable cause was “obscure.”

All bodies were buried with full air force honours in the Port Pirie War Cemetery and an Airman's Memorial was established nearby.