William Wynward ADRIAN

ADRIAN, William Wynward

Service Number: 769
Enlisted: 5 March 1940
Last Rank: Flying Officer
Last Unit: No. 1 Air Observers School Cootamundra
Born: Mackay, Queensland, Australia, 8 June 1913
Home Town: Longreach, Longreach, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Died: Accidental (Flying Accident), Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia, 20 June 1941, aged 28 years
Cemetery: Cootamundra General Cemetery
Presbyterian Plot. Sec. AA. Row C. Grave 7, Cootamundra General Cemetery, Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Innisfail Cenotaph, Longreach Memorial Pool & Aquatic Centre, Longreach War Memorial
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World War 2 Service

5 Mar 1940: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 769, Brisbane, Queensland
5 Mar 1940: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer
20 Jun 1941: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 769, No. 1 Air Observers School Cootamundra, Empire Air Training Scheme

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Biography contributed by David Barlow

Flying Officer William Wynyard Adrian 769 was the pilot of De Havilland DH89 Dragon Rapide aircraft A33-2 from Number 1 Air Observer School at Cootamundra during a navigation exercise when it crashed near the aerodrome.

It is thought that one engine cut out and that the pilot attempted to land the plane in a heavily timbered paddock a mile north-west of the aerodrome. The machine collided with a tree and Flying Officer Adrian was fatally injured.

Four RAAF airmen who were in the plane were injured: AC Reginald Harold Dick 32532 (Wireless operator), shock and abrasions / LAC Henry John Carter 405190 (Observer trainee), broken arm and shock / LAC Gordon Archibald Roberts (Observer trainee), shock and abrasions / LAC Horace Reginald Williams 404991 (Observer trainee), shock and abrasions

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Biography

1 Air Observers School

Rank Flying Officer

Son of William George and Constance Mable Adrian, of Annerley, Queensland.