Leading Aircraftman John Douglas Gardiner

Service Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number 432548
Date of Birth 29 Sep 1924
Place of Birth BARADINE, NSW
Date of Enlistment 2 Jan 1943
Place of Enlistment WOOLLOOMOOLOO, NSW
Next of Kin GARDINER, ALBERT
Date of Death 27 Aug 1943
Rank Leading Aircraftman
Posting on Death 2 BOMB AND GUNNERY SCHOOL PORT PIRIE
Prisoner of War No. From AWM: LAC Gardiner was from Baradine in NSW and worked as a civil servant prior to enlisting on 2 Jan 1943. He died during a training exercise 10 miles west of Port Pirie on 27 August 1943 when two Fairey Battle aircraft collided in mid-air. LAC Gardiner was one of four crew members on board aircraft K9380. The other aircraft, L5654, was carrying a crew of two. All six men were killed. LAC Gardiner was 21 years of age.