David Crawford Forman

David Crawford Forman was a Flying Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, service number 400366. CWGC records his death on 4 August 1944, aged 23, and his burial at Ranchi War Cemetery. The Australian War Memorial identifies him with No. 353 Squadron RAF and records the place of death as India and the cause as accidental.

Aircrew Remembered gives the detailed aircraft context: Forman was pilot of Dakota FZ597 of No. 353 Squadron on a mail-delivery flight from RAF Dum Dum, Calcutta, when it crashed in India on 4 August 1944. Aviation Heritage Museum WA gives the same aircraft and says it dived into the ground during a heavy storm, killing all on board. Virtual War Memorial Australia adds that Forman was born at Malvern, Victoria, on 2 December 1920, educated at Malvern Grammar and Scotch College, worked as a clerk, and enlisted at Melbourne in August 1940. These records tie the same name to the same service number, award trail and casualty date, reducing the risk of confusing him with another airman of similar name.