In Memory Of

LANCE, EVERITT MURRAY

Service Details
Age:
 43
Date of Birth:
 1928-04-29
Service No:
 O316996
Rank:
 Flight Lieutenant
Unit:
 9 Sqdn.
Regiment:
 Royal Australian Air Force
Date of Death:
 1971-06-07
Cause of Death:
 Killed in action, helicopter crashed and burned. They were providing gunship, ammunition resupply and casualty evacuation support for Bravo Company of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and Centurion tanks of the 1st Armoured Regiment, who were involved in an attack on an enemy bunker system in Long Khanh province as part of Operation Overlord. During an ammunition resupply, Lance's helicopter was hit by enemy fire and crashed into trees killing him, the gunner and injuring two others.
Commemoration
Grave Reference:
 ANZ/R/8 CHS L/C 11/2/72 Lawn RSL
Cemetery:
 CANBERRA (WODEN) PUBLIC CEMETERY
Localitly:
 Australia Capital Territory
Country:
 Australia
Additional Information
Decorations:
 D F C (USA), Air Medal (USA) with Oak Leaf Cluster
Citations:
 Awarded while serving with the South African Air Force in the Korean War
Son of Thomas Fuller Lance. Husband of Margaret Lance. Father of Murray, Graham and Meredath. Educated Aliwal North High School; SATS General Botha Cadet No. 1305 [1943-1944 term] [Red Hill]. Trained as a pilot in the South African Air Force and subsequently served with No 2 Squadron SAAF (flying Cheetahs) in the Korean conflict. Received the USA's Distinguished Flying Cross. Unconfirmed reports have it that he was also awarded a further USA decoration, The Air Medal. After leaving the SAAF he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and was serving with the Royal Australian Air Force flying helicopters, when he was shot down and killed during operations in Vietnam. "Lofty" features prominently in the book "South African Flying Cheetahs in Korea" by Dermott Moore and Peter Bagshaw, published by Ashanti Publishing.