Flight Sergeant Alan Gilbert Potter (417302) served with the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War. He was the son of Joseph Potter and Marion Ruth Potter. Alan lived in Prospect, South Australia with his wife Eunice Laurel Potter.
Flight Sergeant Potter died on 23rd July 1943 aged 30 years old. At the time, he operated in Northern Ireland with the RAF No. 5 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit.
Imperial War Museum Photo: CH 5963 (Part of the Air Ministry Second World War Official Collection). A Bristol Beaufort in Royal Australian Air Force markings in use in an Operational Training Unit during the Second World War. Photo taken by Royal Air Force Official Photographer.
On 23rd July 1943, he was navigator and bomb aimer in Bristol Beaufort JM451 taking off from Maghaberry Airfield, Co. Antrim. The crew was detailed to carry out non-operational day-time map reading, air to air firing, photography, and QCM exercises. Potter and the remaining crew members died when the plane came down at 1035hrs five miles west of Swatragh, Co. Antrim.
Australian War Memorial Photo: SUK11634. The graves of Flight Sergeants William Murray Mullins (418542) and Alan Gilbert Potter (417302) of the Royal Australian Air Force. Photo taken on 12th March 1944.
Alan Gilbert Potter’s grave is in Eglantine Church of Ireland Cemetery, Lisburn, Co. Antrim. Also killed in the incident were Captain F.O. Aspinall (RCAF), Flight Sergeant R.D. Eaglen (RAF), and Sergeant E.C. Buttle (RAF).