The crew consisted of five Australians and two Englishmen
Warrant Officer Wallace Arthur Watson - Pilot, aged 21
RAAF 412327:
Wallace - or ‘Wal’ Watson - was born on the 6th of May, 1922, in Maclean, a rural town in northern New South Wales, Australia, into a farming family. After graduating from high school, Wal attended Armidale Teachers’ College, and was studying to become a schoolteacher when he enlisted in the RAAF on the 22nd of June 1941.
Warrant Officer William Maitland Waterman - Navigator, aged 21
RAAF 415061:
William Waterman, known as `Billy’, was born on the 28th of April, 1922, in Perth, the capital of Western Australia and was raised there. When Billy joined the RAAF on the 23rd of June 1941, he noted as his occupation, `just left school.’
Flight Sergeant Raymond Edgar Hedges - Flight Engineer, aged 35
RAF 1800194:
Flight Engineer Raymond, `Ray’ Hedges, must have been something of an oddity in Bomber Command as he was 35 at the time of his death. Ray came from Watford, England, and was a clerk at the travel company Thomas Cook before the war. He enlisted on the 19th of December, 1941. He was married to Patience and was the father of two infant children, Isobel and Terry. Ray is survived by his daughter, granddaughters and great-grandchildren.
Flight Sergeant Charles Lloyd Robinson - Bomb Aimer, aged 26
RAAF 412270:
Charles Lloyd Robinson - apparently known as ‘Lloyd’ - was born on the 29th of May, 1917 and lived in Sydney. When he joined the RAAF on the 22nd of June 1941, Lloyd was working in Sydney as a clerk in the Department of Labour and Industry.
Flight Sergeant John Butterworth - Wireless Operator, aged 22
RAAF 408306:
Born on the 6th of August, 1921, John Butterworth came from Tinderbox, a hamlet on the east coast of the island of Tasmania, 17 kilometres from the state capital of Hobart. John was working as a baker in Hobart when he joined the RAAF on the 9th of October 1941.
Sergeant James Hurst - Mid Upper Gunner, aged 19
RAF 1817269:
James Hurst was known to his family as `Jimmy’. He was born on the 17th of February 1924 in Nottingham and was married to Mary at the time of his death. Jimmy was working in the offices of the Co-Operative in Nottingham when he joined the RAF.
Flight Sergeant Reginald Douglas McWha - Rear Gunner, aged 23
RAAF 414816:
Reginald McWha - known as `Doug’ - was born on the 18th of February, 1920, at Augathella, a rural town lying 748 km (465 miles) west of Brisbane in the Queensland outback. Doug described himself as a `jackaroo now grazier’ when he enlisted on the 9th of November, 1941. A `jackaroo’ in Australia means a young person working on a sheep or cattle farm to gain experience in farming life.