Operation: Photo reconnaissance

Date: 16th March 1944 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 168 Squadron (motto: Rerum Cognoscere Causas - 'To know the causes of things')

Type: Mustang I

Serial: AM209

Code: QC-?

Base: RAF Odiham

Location: Abbeville area, France

Pilot: F/O. James Stuart Wright AUS/412746 RAAF Age 26. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Two aircraft taking off at 08:34 hrs to carry out photo reconnaissance in the Abbeville area of France. Low cloud was encountered over the coast and the aircraft became separated. At around 09:25 hrs the other pilot 28 year old, F/O. John Charles Low AUS/413129 RAAF (1) heard that F/O. Wright was starting a run over the target area.

Despite Low calling him, nothing further was heard.

F/O. Low had been unable to take photographs and returned safely to his unit.

(1) F/O. Low was killed on the 08th June 1944 flying Mustang I AM128 shot down by a Luftwaffe pilot from JG26, crashing North East of Carentan, France at 16:30 hrs.

Burial details:

F/O. James Stuart Wright. Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension. Plot 6. Row G. Grave 2. Born on the 26th July 1917 at Dubbo, the son of Arthur Stuart and Charlotte Jane Wright, of 'Springwood', Obley Road, Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia and husband of Mavis Janet Wright, of 'Ierne', Obley Road, Dubbo with whom he married on the 14th July 1938. Grave inscription reads: "His Duty Nobly Done". A farmer/grazier prior to enlisting on the 20th July 1941 at Sydney. Previously trained with 41 Operational Training Unit, prior to joining 170 Squadron on the 22nd September 1943. Finally joining 168 Squadron on the 22nd January 1944.

Trained on DH 82 Tiger Moth totalling 69.05 hours and the Wirraway 150.15 hours.

Other mentioned:

F/O. John Charles Low. Evreux Communal Cemetery. Row A, Grave 1. Born on the 10th November 1915 at Forbes, the son of John Davidson Low and Ella Constance Low and husband of Frances Low, serving as a WAAF at North Weald with whom he married on the 16th May 1944 of 'Bon Accord', 19 Clement Street, Forbes, New South Wales, Australia. Grave inscription reads: "This Ground Is Holy: Here The Brave Are Resting". A farmer/grazier prior to enlisting on the 24th June 1941 at Sydney. Previously trained with 41 Operational Training Unit, prior to joining 170 Squadron on the 26th January 1943.

Trained on DH 82 Tiger Moth totalling 68.00 hours and the Wirraway 90.00 hours.

For further details our thanks to the Australian National Archives and to the following sources.

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