RAAF Avro Anson MG217

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Commonwealth War Graves - Port Pirie Garden of Memory War Cemetery.

RSL (Port Pirie Sub Branch) Inc.

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On Sunday 31st December 1944 at 1050 hours, a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Avro Anson (MG217) from No. 3 Air Observer School in Port Pirie, South Australia crashed approximately 2.75 miles north of the Port Pirie Aerodrome during a non-operational navigation training flight. The nature and probable cause of the accident was stated that the “port mainplane sheared away from outboard of port engine nacelle probably due to excessive loading during turning manoeuvres.”

Killed were:

Flying Officer Sven Robert Polgreen 416282

Leading Aircraftman Lawrence Gordon Campbell 435332

Leading Aircraftman Robert Bruce McCallum 438964

Dangerously injured was:

Flight Sergeant Mervyn John Kinsman 441283

The aircraft’s pilot, Flight Sergeant Mervyn John Kinsman was detailed to fly Avro Anson MG217 on a navigational training exercise to take off at 0745 hours on Sunday 31st December 1944. The crew were Flying Officer Sven Robert Polgreen (Wireless Operator Air Gunner); Leading Aircraftman Robert Bruce McCallum (Aircrew - first trainee navigator); Leading Aircraftman Lawrence Gordon Campbell (Aircrew - second trainee navigator).

At about 1020 hours when the exercise was apparently completed the aircraft was seen carrying out unusual manoeuvres flying over the western side of the township of Port Pirie. At the conclusion of a very steep turn to starboard the port mainplane sheared away from outboard of the port engine nacelle and the aircraft was then seen to come down and crash on the outskirts of the town.

A Court of Inquiry determined that the pilot, Flight Sergeant Mervyn John Kinsman, had a total of 482.5 flying hours to his credit and his assessment at No. 4 Service Flying Training School was “required standard”. His assessment at this unit was deemed as “average”.

The three airmen who died in the crash were buried in the Commonwealth War Graves section of the Port Pirie Cemetery on the morning of the 3rd January 1945 with full military honours.

Flight Sergeant Mervyn John Kinsman who survived the crash was taken to the Port Pirie Public Hospital suffering multiple injuries and shock where he recovered and was eventually discharged from the RAAF on the 16th October 1945.

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