Ivor Russell Le Maistre

Wreckage of Beaufighter A19-5
Photo from RAAF Court of Inquiry – December 14, 1944
His death was accidental at Williamstown. Ivor was in Beaufighter A19-5 when it crashed. Ivor had been given duel instruction in Beaufighter's at night, and on that night was doing his first solo flight. He was authorized to do that by his Officer Commanding, who had told him that the flight was to be of 1 hour with 2 landings. At 10pm, he was given permission to land, but approached very low and when about half a mile from the aerodrome perimeter, the plane crashed into the wood and began to burn. When the Medical Officer and others proceeded to the area, they found the plane completely broken up and burning. His badly burnt body was recovered. An accident report stated “During non-operational training flight aircraft hit trees on approaching the flare path.” The funeral was held at Sandgate War Cemetery on 16th December 1944 at 9.30am. The probable cause of the crash was unknown