CORNWELL, Ross George

Plane was a Lancaster Mk 1-LL944 KO-Z which was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Huchel, 45 km NNW of Koblenz. Target was the railway yards at Siegen. Three of the seven members of the crew survived and became POW's. They owed their lives to the courage of the pilot Robinson David Brownlee, RCAF who kept the plane flying long enough for those crew to bail out. Brownlee and Cornwell were two of the four killed.

Last Name
CORNWELL
Given Names
Ross George
Service Number
429928
Date of Birth
10/02/1922
Birth Location
Saddleworth S.A
Enlistment Date
10/10/1942
Enlistment Location
Adelaide
1Wags Start Date
07/01/1943
Course Details
WAGS Course 34, WAGS Course 36
Intake Date
07/01/1943
Kill Date or Discharge Date
16/12/1944 (Killed)
Discharge Unit
115 SQN
Rank
Flight Sergeant
Operations
Air ops from UK Target Siegen, Germany
Date of Death
16/12/1944
Age
22
Cemetery / Memorial
Rheinberg War Cemetery Germany
Medals
Air Gunners badge 1939-45 France and Germany Defence War medal
Notes

Plane was a Lancaster Mk 1-LL944 KO-Z which was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Huchel, 45 km NNW of Koblenz. Target was the railway yards at Siegen. Three of the seven members of the crew survived and became POW's. They owed their lives to the courage of the pilot Robinson David Brownlee, RCAF who kept the plane flying long enough for those crew to bail out. Brownlee and Cornwell were two of the four killed.

Posting on Death
115 Squadron
NAA Status
DIGITIZED

Acknowledgements

National Archives of Australia - 1 WAGS BallaratUBC Web Design - 1 WAGS BallaratCity of Ballarat - 1 WAGS BallaratAPCO Alfredton - 1 WAGS BallaratDepartment of Veterans Affairs - 1 WAGS BallaratAustralian War Memorial - 1 WAGS BallaratRSL Virtual War Memorial - 1 WAGS Ballarat