The Top Ender Magazine October November 2020 Edition

Feature
WWII Reconnaissance Pilot
Honoured at Coomalie Airfield
´ Corporal David Anstee lays the wreath.
³ Walking to the aircraft crash site.
To commemorate the 75th
anniversary of the passing of
Squadron Leader James Gillespie, a
small service attended by members
of Nos 87 and 13 Squadron and No
114 Mobile Control and Reporting
Unit (114MCRU) was held at
Coomalie Airfield on 5 August 2020.
Squadron Leader Gillespie of No 87 Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron died as a result of injuries
sustained when his Mosquito aircraft A52-605 crashed on
take-off from Coomalie Airfield in the Northern Territory
on 3 August 1945.
Coomalie Airfield was used during
World War II as a vital intelligence
collection point
Coomalie Airfield was used during World War II as a vital intelligence
collection point with No 1 Photographic Reconnaissance
Unit (1PRU) stationed there. 1PRU was later re-designated No
87 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron.
Mr Richard Luxton, the current owner of Coomalie Airfield
and a respected member of the Darwin Historical Community,
gave a speech on the threshold of Runway 17 where the ill-fated
Mosquito had commenced its take-off roll.
As is customary for those who served at the airfield during
WWII, a red flare was released in Gillespie’s honour.
The attendees then moved to the site of the crash about
200m down the runway, where Corporal David Anstee laid a
wreath on behalf of present-day 87 Squadron personnel and
RAAF Base Darwin’s Senior Australian Defence Force Officer,
Wing Commander Andrew Anthony.
A General Salute was performed by Squadron Leader Craig
Sedgman of 13 Squadron, Corporal David Anstee (87 Squadron),
Corporal Nevio Angrisano (114MCRU), Leading Aircraftwoman
Courtney Quick (13 Squadron), and Aircraftwoman Abby Cain
(114MCRU).
In his reply speech as the Officer-in-Charge, Squadron Leader
Sedgman quoted the work of a WWII historian to explain the
flying nuances of the Mosquito aircraft.
“The Mosquito was not an easy aircraft to fly”, Squadron
50 The Top Ender | Tri-Services Magazine Incorporated