John Blatch TAPLIN

John Blatch TAPLIN Update Details

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TAPLIN, John Blatch

Service Number:	407607
Enlisted:	11 November 1940
Last Rank:	Flight Sergeant
Last Unit:	No. 206 Squadron (RAF)
Born:	Adelaide, South Australia, 3 May 1915
Home Town:	Adelaide, South Australia
Schooling:	Gladstone High School & Port Pirie High School, South Australia
Occupation:	Clerk (S.A.R.)
Died:	Accidental (Aircraft crash at take off), Isle of Benbecula, Scotland, United Kingdom, 6 October 1942, aged 27 years
Cemetery:	Nunton Old Churchyard Cemetery, Isle of Benbecula, Scotland Grave Reference: West Wall Border
Memorials:	Adelaide South Australian Railways WW1 & WW2 Honour Boards, Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cummins Memorial Pavers, Cummins War Memorial

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Flight Sergeant, 407607
11 Nov 1940:	Involvement Flight Sergeant, 407607
11 Nov 1940:	Enlisted Adelaide
11 Nov 1940:	Enlisted Adelaide, South Australia
11 Nov 1940:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 407607
6 Oct 1942:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 407607, No. 206 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45

Help us honour John Blatch Taplin's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by David Barlow

B17 Flying Fortress FL454 of 206SQN RAF crashed into the sea off the Isle of Benbecula in the Hebrides Islands, Scotland - killed were:

Pilot Officer Jack Edmond Delarue 402322 RAAF

Sergeant John Blatch Taplin 407607 RAAF

Sergeant John Flower Guppy 406452 RAAF

Biography

He was a member of the crew of a Fortress FL454 aircraft which was detailed to carry out an anti-submarine sweep. It was taking off from its base at 6 a.m. on the 6^th of October, 1942, when another aircraft taxied onto the runway directly in its path. In order to avoid a collision, the pilot of the aircraft pulled it violently off the ground. The aircraft was seen to climb for a short distance but stalled and crashed into the sea off the Isle of Benbecula. All three of the RAAF crew members lost their lives along two of the four RAF crew members.

"Private Casualty Advices

Mrs. J. B. Taplin, of 14 Balk street, Largs Bay, has been informed that her husband, Sgt. Wireless-Airgunner John B. Taplin, is missing, believed to have lost his life in air operations on October 6. Sgt. Taplin enlisted in May, 1940, did his training at Somers, Ballarat, and Evans Head, and went overseas in September, 1941. He is the only son or Mrs. and the late Mr. A. J. Taplin, of 11 Dartmouth street, Croydon. Before enlisting he was employed by the SA Railways." - from the Adelaide Advertiser 12 Oct 1942 (nla.gov.au)

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