Patrick George WALSH

Patrick George WALSH. Lieutenant, Australian Flying Corps died 30th September 1918 aged 22. Son of Richard and Mary Walsh, of Toowoomba, Queensland. At rest in Leighterton Church Cemetery, Gloucestershire.
Some notes from his army records.
He joined up on the 5th October 1915 aged 19 and 4 months, occupation, bank teller. He was private 5213, 7th Battalion, A I F. On the 27th March 1918 he was stationed with 8th Training Squadron, 1st Wing A.F.C. He was killed in a plane accident at Leighterton on the 30th September 1918 when flying solo in a Sopwith Camel while practicing aerial gunnery. A witness at the Court of Enquiry into the crash stated he saw the Sopwith Camel F 1948 apparently diving at a target with the engine slightly throttled down. The plane was pulled out of the dive and immediately dived again and then crash to earth in a left hand spin. The plane at this time was about 500 feet and being at such a low height did not allow the pilot time to turn to the right. He was found still in the wreckage, head downward in the front portion, he kegs were jammed by the plane.