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Cranston, Dion Graeme

Photograph Unveiled

An enlarged photograph of Dion Cranston who was killed during a bombing raid over

(Germany) on June 2, 1944, was unveiled at the last Clarence Council meeting. Prior to his enlistment in the RAAF in 1941, he had been employed on the council clerical staff.

Flt Sgt Cranston was air gunner on Lancaster LL971 which took off from RAF Waddington to bomb Gelsenkirchen Germany.  Nothing was heard from the aircraft after it took off and it did not return to base.  Post war it was established that the aircraft had crashed at Zwillbrock.  All the crew were killed bar one and he later recorded that the aircraft was shot down by a nightfighter after leaving the target and approaching the Dutch border.  The pilot ordered them to bail out but the plane exploded.

He is buried at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Germany

The Mercury 22 April 1946

PRESUMED KILLED

FLT-SGT D. G. CRANSTON

Son of Mr and Mrs H. J. Cranston, Bellerive, who has been presumed killed in air operations over Germany on the night of June 22 last. Flt-Sgt Cranston was educated at the Hobart High School, and before joining the RAAF was employed as a clerk at the Bellerive Municipal Chambers.

The Mercury 2nd Mar 1945

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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