STURM, John Ridgeway
| Service Number: | 407133 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 June 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | No. 452 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Payneham, South Australia, 15 February 1918 |
| Home Town: | Seaton, Charles Sturt, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Accidental (Flying Accident), Merauke, Dutch New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies, 17 December 1944, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Townsville War Cemetery, Queensland, Australia B.D.12 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 22 Jun 1940: | Involvement Flight Lieutenant, 407133 | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Adelaide | |
| 22 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 407133 | |
| 17 Dec 1944: | Involvement No. 452 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by David Barlow
Son of William Charles Frederick and Agnes Emma Ottilie Sturm of Seaton Park, SA
Flight Lieutenant John Ridgeway Sturm 407133 of 452SQN was killed in a ground collision with other aircraft while landing Spitfire aircraft A58-478 at Merauke Strip, Dutch New Guinea
His aircraft struck Spitfire A58-534 and A58-325 and his aircraft was destroyed by fire.
The pilot of A58-534 was FLTLT Albert Laurence Lumley 411587 who was not injured in this incident, he was later involved in the crash of Spitfire A58-466 in January 45 (discharged May 1946)
The pilot of A58-325 was FLGOFF William James Hastie Chrystal 402729 who was seriously injured in this incident (discharged September 1945)
FLTLT Sturm had previously crashed in Wirraway A20-642 on 01 August 1944 - in that incident he was slightly injured and his passenger was OK
Click images to start slideshow.