David Campbell Church RAAF (1924 - 1944)

Born 24 May 1924 in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia

Died 29 Oct 1944 at age 20 in Bergen, Norway

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Geoffrey Raebel [send private message]

Biography

Son of Gordon Campbell and Evelina Glynde Church, of Naracoorte, South Australia.

AUSTRALIAN BOMBER CREWMAN'S DOGTAG FOUND IN NORWAY In September 2011 brothers Erling and Sverre Tvedten walking near Kvarven in Norway came across a tag belonging to a D.C. Church. Flying Officer David Campbell Church of Narracoorte S.A. Joined the RAAF on 12th Sept 1942 and had been posted to 207 Squadron. On his last operation on 29th October 1944 his aircraft was tasked with bombing a German U-Boat pen near the Norwegian city of Bergen. It is amazing that a solitary tag would be found after nearly 70 years. Mrs Kidman who sent the information to our Don Browning has written that the tag was returned to David's sister. David was Mrs Kidman's brother, James best friend. James was shot down and killed after a raid on Stuttgart on 21st July 1944. James grave in Bad Tolz is well looked after. Our thanks to the Narracoorte Herald and Mrs Kidman for the story RAAF # 417992 CREW NOT ENTERED IN WIKITREE probably all British

The crew members of LM271 were:

Flying Officer David Campbell Church (417992) (Pilot) Sergeant Arthur Shatwell (1089927) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer) Flight Sergeant John McLean (1566319) (RAFVR) (Navigator) Sergeant Henry George Smith (1872415) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner) Sergeant Russell James Hammond Tuddenham (1319075) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner) Sergeant Arthur Walmsley (1090492) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner) Flight Sergeant Colin Whitehead (1621003) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)

CHURCH, DAVID CAMPBELL Service Royal Australian Air Force Service Number 417992 Date of Birth 24 May 1924 Place of Birth MURWILLUMBAH, NSW Date of Enlistment 12 Sep 1942 Place of Enlistment ADELAIDE Next of Kin CHURCH, GORDON Date of Death 29 Oct 1944 Rank Flying Officer Posting on Death 207 SQUADRON Prisoner of War No

BERGEN (MØLLENDAL) CHURCH CEMETERY, Norway

Coll. grave D. 2. (remains of 7 aircrew)

Sources

• https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=1043304&c=WW2

https://aviationmuseumwa.org.au/afcraaf-roll/church-david-campbell-417992/

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1706321

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10309623

https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/846/people

http://www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk/rollofhonour/207mb_raaf.htm

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2186407/DAVID%20CAMPBELL%20CHURCH/

Bomber command Assn in Australia Newsletter #49