Those killed were on a training flight from No 1 Air Observer School at Cootamundra on an Avro Anson aircraft piloted by Sergeant BE Walker with trainee observers, Leading Aircraftsmen IR Rojahn, HM Sauerbier and A Sidorenko.  

According to local RSL member, 92 year-old Lance Cooke, orders were for the trainees to make visual rather than instrument observations. However there was low cloud cover and the aircraft came to grief.

Following a Goulburn Post article by aviation historian Bob Piper in 1996, Gunning Lions Club and RSL donated funds for a memorial plaque that was dedicated on Remembrance Day that year. 

To pay your respects to those who died as they prepared for service in World War II, please visit the Memorial Garden opposite the main entrance to the Gunning Shire Hall.

It was a literally a blast from the past as the record breaking convoy of over 300 trucks and buses rolled through Gunning last Saturday afternoon with klaxons, horns and hooters blaring. It was also an ominous omen of what could return to the village should AGL be granted a two year extension to submit a “modified” development application on its mooted gas-fired power station. Councillors have voted unanimously to object to AGL’s application.

Members of the Gunning Garden Club had an interesting outing to the Botanical Gardens that included a tour on an electric bus, the Flora Explorer, which apparently had issues with steep inclines! Despite this the new cafe caterer and gardens got the thumbs up.