Herman Fred Sass

Herman Fred Sass

Personal Information
Date of Birth	7 Dec 1916
Place of Birth	Gosnells, Western Australia
Death	16 May 1940
Place of Death	Mount Torbreck, Victoria
Age at Enlistment	20 years, 1 month
Description	6'3" (1.91m) tall ; 182lbs 82.554 kg ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; dark hair
Occupation	Fitter & Turner
Religion	Independant
Address	29 Arlington avenue, South Perth, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Daphne Sass
Military Information
Reg Number	2560
Date of Enlistment	25 Jan 1937
Rank	Corporal
Unit/Formation	No 13 Squadron
Post War Details
Fate	Killed accidentally in crash of Avro Anson A4/4
Australian War Memorial	Australian War Memorial
Medals	War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Prior to enlisting in the RAAF, Herman had completed 3½ years of engineering, and was generally regarded as a Fitter & Turner. On 25 Jan 1937 at Laverton in Victoria, Herman enlisted in the RAAF for 6 years and was posted to the Recruit Training Squadron based at Laverton, mustered as a Fitter General. There he undertook the Fitter Aero Course No 8 between 2 Feb 1937 and 10 Mar 1937 and the Recruits Training Course from 16 Mar 1937 until 13 May 1937. On 17 May 1937 he transferred to the No 1 Flying School based at Point Cook in Victoria where on 31 Mar 1937 he was re mustered as a Flight Fitter.

Training completed, Herman was posted to No 23 (City of Perth) Squadron on 5 Jul 1937 in Laverton. The Squadron then moved to Bullsbrook (Pearce Airbase) in Western Australia on 4 Mar 1938. On 1 Jan 1939 the unit was renamed No 25 Squadron. Soon after Herman was transferred to the No 14 Squadron which was also based at Pearce on 13 Feb 1939. On 4 Jun 1939 Herman travelled by air to Port Hedland, and returned on 6 Jun 1939. Herman was Trade Tested for Corporal Aero Fitter on 28 Jul 1939 and passed with an 80% result. As a result he was promoted Corporal in August 1939.

War Service

On 4 Nov 1939 Herman married Daphne Saw who was the Secretary to the Road Board Secretary. Prior to their marriage, Herman's NOK was his brother who also was serving in No 25 Squadron at Pearce. Daphne argued with the RAAF as to which Squadron he was in when he died, his records showing No 14 Squadron, her belief was that it was no 25 Squadron. Herman was sent to Point Cook in Victoria by rail, he arrived on 14 May 1940, and two days later he was a crew member of Avro Anson bomber A4/4 which was scheduled to fly between Point Cook, Victoria and Camden in New South Wales. The plane never arrived an although a search was made for it, it was not for many months before the plane and its crew were discovered in 1941.

The circumstances of the death of the crew was investigated by the Victorian Coroner:

"On 16/5/40 at Mount Torbruck near Eildon Weir in the State of Victoria the said Anthony Ashley Daniel, Ivan Lapen Stowdor, Francis Etienne Hyland and Herman Fred. Sass died from the effects of injuries then and there received when an aeroplane in which they were travelling was accidentally flown into the side of the said mountain"

Post War

Notes

Herman's connection to the Armadale district is through his marriage to Daphne Saw, and her position with the Armadale-Kelmscott Roads Board.