Frederick Reginald CASSIDY

Service Number: 6732

Enlisted: 8 January 1940

Last Rank: Sergeant

Last Unit: Not yet discovered

Born: Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia, 29 July 1917

Home Town: Toombul, Brisbane, Queensland

Schooling: St Joseph's Convent Toombul; Christian Brother's College Albion

Occupation: Bank Staff

Died: Air Crash in [operations]- lost at sea, Cape Willoughby, South Australia, South Australia, Australia, 3 June 1942, aged 24 years

Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"

At Sea, Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bundaberg Civic Centre Memorial Portico, Cape Willoughby RAAF Arvo Anson W2435 Crash Site (virtual memorial), Sydney Memorial (Sydney War Cemetery) Rookwood

World War 2 Service

8 Jan 1940: Enlisted SN 6732, Enlisted in Brisbane

8 Jan 1940: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, SN 6732

3 Jun 1942: Involvement Sergeant, SN 6732, Empire Air Training Scheme

Son of William Patrick and Florence Olive Cassidy, of Southport, Queensland.

Sgt. Pilot Frederick Reginald Cassidy, 24, eldest son of Mr and Mrs W. P. Cassidy. of Toombul, who is believed to have lost his life as a result of air operations off the coast of S. Australia, on 3 June.

Educated at none  St Joseph's Con- Sgt. Pilot Cassidy vent, Toombul, and Christian Brothers' College, Albion, he was employed at the Fortitude Valley branch of the Commonwealth Bank, before enlisting.

The day war was declared, Sgt. Pilot Cassidy made preliminary inquiries for the Army and the following day for the Navy. A week later he joined the Air Force. An uncle and namesake, Air Commodore R. Cassidy, who was a Queensland Rhodes scholar, is serving with the RAF.

Official records state that, despite repeated attempts by ground station and Parafield Aeradio Station, nothing was heard from W2345 at all.

At 1815 hours an Avro Anson plane, now believed to have been W2435, was spotted by the light keeper at Cape Willoughby Lighthouse, Kangaroo Island, South Australia.  The lighthouse is situated on the most easterly point of the island.

According to the Light Housekeeper (Either William LOVALL or Charles BARBER who were both stationed there at the time)

 “the plane approached from the south and circled the light three- or four-times flashing Morse signals that could not be understood.  At the time,” according to the Cape Willoughby log records, “the weather was very poor with 25 knots of wind, an overcast sky and drizzly rain.  At 1835 hours the plane left the vicinity, headed in a south easterly direction.”

The log goes on to record that 

“later, at 1907 hours, the plane returned from the east and landed on the sea close under the cliffs near the light.  It remained afloat and could be seen in the beam of the light for about 20 minutes before sinking.  

A message from the lighthouse asking what assistance was required, the floating plane flashed, "boat".  

There was no boat at the lighthouse.”

Searches went on for several days, but no bodies were found.

Reg CASSIDYs family state that information from the light housekeeper a few years after the event was that a member of the crew was seen scrambling onto the rocks at the foot of the cliffs below the light. (The Cassidys believe it was Reg) He could not be reached and disappeared during the night. (There was no mention of this in the RAAF records we have seen). 

In the Cassidys family telling of the incident, “The gnarled tree”, they analyse the situation as follows: -

“It is unknown why the investigation resolved that the landing site was about a half mile southeast of the lighthouse or that the plane was last seen floating south about a mile away.  There are a number of reasons why this finding could be flawed.

A half mile southeast of the lighthouse placed the landing site in open, unprotected water.  With a reported wind strength of 25 knots the waves and swell would have been such that a safe landing would have been an incredible feat.  The light from the lighthouse revolved such that it flashed every fourteen seconds.  At 1907 hours in early June on an overcast night with drizzly rain, a relatively small plane floating in a heavy swell a half mile to a mile away would have been extremely difficult to spot in a slowly oscillating light.

A site close to the cliff face would have been better protected.  Both the propositions that the plane landed safely, and a member of the crew made it to the rocks become more feasible. It gathers greater credence by the later finding of an oxygen bottle, believed to have been from W2435.  It was in good condition which would indicate that it did not spend much time in the water. (In later years it was donated by the finder Mr Robert Howard to be displayed in a small museum in what was previously the head light keeper's residence where it is still on display.)

It is very sad that the plane flew southeast over the Great Southern Ocean.  In that direction, the closest land would have been approximately 175 kilometres away.  Although the coast in the vicinity of the lighthouse is extremely inhospitable, about five kilometres to the northwest is long sandy beach.  It is tucked away between two cliffs but, had it been visible, may have provided a safe landing place.  Had they landed there, however, their best chance of survival would probably have been to stay with the plane and await the outcome of the air/sea search.  

The virgin scrub on Kangaroo Island is so thick it would have required sharp implements to get through it.  The native animals are generally very small so that they can move through the thick undergrowth.

In 1942, Kangaroo Island was very sparsely populated.  Only a small area around Kingscote, about forty kilometres away in a direct line, had been settled.  It was not until after the war that much of the island was opened to returned soldiers in what was known as soldier settlements.  Many land parcels were taken up and although much of the area was cleared for crops and grazing, substantial tracts were left in virgin state.  There is now even a small private landing strip about 8 kilometres west northwest of the lighthouse.  However, in 1942 it is highly unlikely that other than on the beaches, the island would have provided any safe landing places.”

W2435 - The inquest.

The head light keeper provided evidence at an investigation into the loss of W2435 by the Air Board.  He stated that he flashed a morse light message to the floating plane asking if there was something they needed. Those on the plane replied “Boat” by morse light. Unfortunately, there was no boat kept by or accessible to the lighthouse.

The inquest was told that immediately they were made aware the RAAF organised air, land and sea searches to be commenced. Notices were broadcast to sea traffic in the area for assistance. Only light debris was located. On the 7th day of June 1941, 4 days after the plane was last seen, the search was concluded. 

The RAAF Minute Sheet, reference 163/163/384 is part of the records in relation to the loss of both W2435 and W2370: -

"The question of whether these cases should be referred to as air operations was referred to D.C.T. – (no objection) D.T. - (no objection) and Assistant Secretary.  The latter considered no objection from political point of view but that the question of medals might arise and should be referred to D.F.S.  Major Coleman would warn Secretary and Minister.  

D.F.S. stated there is no objection from medal point of view.  All to be reported as Air Operations."

“D.F.S.” was the Director of Flight Services, who outranked all previously consulted. He deemed that the flights were operational sorties for the record and therefore both planes were listed as “Lost as a result of operations” (not training). 

This also changed medal entitlements for the men lost so their next of kin were awarded the medals their lost servicemen deserved.

As none of the men from W2435 were recovered, they were listed as “missing presumed lost on operations”.  ...

See Avro display at Cape Willoughby Lighthouse