Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Contibuted by Geffrey Gillon 

He was 22 and the son of Charles Nicolas and Mary Violet Francis, of Haberfield, New South Wales, Australia.
He was killed with Corporal Clifford Amos and they rest side-by-side. They were with No 10 Squadron (Coastal Command) based at Pembroke Dock, South Wales. At 13.30 hrs on 28 April 1941, their aircraft, Sunderland T9075 took off for a 'cross over' patrol with another Sunderland (T9073). Their aircraft was forced to land on the Irish Sea off Anglesey (North Wales) killing six crew with five injured who were rescued the following day.
Their bodies were washed ashore nearby at Silecroft beach some weeks later. According to the Whicham church burial register they were buried on 9 July 1941 with the ceremony being performed by a Chaplain from the R.A.F., D.P. Glyn Davies.

Interred: Whicham, St Mary’s Churchyard, Cumbria, England.

John Francis was a crew member of a 10 Squadron Sunderland flying boat returning from anti-submarine operations on 28 April 1941.  The aircraft could not locate the base flare path because of poor visibility and an incorrect radio beacon transmission which gave the pilot a reciproal bearing.  When running low on fuel and having given the crew the option of bailing out over southern Ireland (Eire), the pilot began a procedure to set down at sea.  The aircraft hit the surface of the ocean without warning and in due course sank.  Six of the eleven crew were lost.  A full account of the incident is located here.  10 Squadron Sunderland lost at sea. (aircrewremembered.com) (aircrewremembered.com) (aircrewremembered.com) (aircrewremembered.com)