John Burnett SELTH
B: 27th Dec 1911 D: 11th Dec 1943
Born: Goodwood, South Australia, 27th December 1911 (SA Births Register District: Adelaide Book: 878 Page: 268 )
Died: Wiltshire, England, 11th December 1943, aged 31 years
Father: Edward McLean SELTH B: 23rd July 1880, Adelaide SA. D: 5th Oct 1944, Payneham South, SA. Aged 64
Married: 9th July 1908 St Bartholomew Church Norwood, SA.
Mother: Ellen Wynne HUNTER B: 19th March 1875 D: 18th May 1946 Norwood, SA. Aged 70
Siblings
Wynne McLean SELTH B: 17th Feb 1913 Goodwood, SA. D: 30th May 1963 Clovelly Park, SA. Aged 50
Lois Devonshire SELTH B: 1st Oct 1915 New Parkside, SA. D: 9th Mar 1916 New Parkside, SA Aged 0
Aileen Mary Devonshire SELTH B: 11th Jan 1919 Unley, SA. D:
Prior to enlisting in the Second World War, John was a Teacher employed by the South Australian Education Department and was living at Farina.
Flying Officer Selth enlisted with the Royal Australian Airforce on 11th September 1941, at the age of 29. Service Number 416795.
He was trained to fly all types of aircraft at Mt Gambier, Port Pirie and Nhill. After initial training he was appointed as Pilot Officer on the 16th September 1942, and then to the rank of Flying Officer on the 17th March 1943.
After completion of training in Australia, he was was attached to Squadron Unit 299 of the Royal Air Force based at Keevil Airfield, Trowbridge, United Kingdom.
F.O. Selth was killed in England as a result of an aircraft accident on 11.12.1943. Details of the actual accident are not available. His death occurred as a result of a flying accident involving an aircraft known as a Lockheed Ventura, at a place called Kingston Warren, Wiltshire, England.
The aircraft involved was Ventura AE733. Also killed in the accident: Flying Officer Albert Henry SALT service number 419222, Flight Sergeant William Roy CHESTER R/122563 Royal Canadian Air Force and Sergeant Raymond Louis SANDERS S/N 1576004 of the Royal Air Force. The Lockheed Ventura aircraft was a general reconnaissance bomber with 5 crew. It travelled at a maximum speed of 500 m.p.h. It had six guns of various calibre and carried six 500 pound bombs, or six 325 pound depth charges and also had an option to carry a torpedo.
He was buried at the Oxford Cemetery North Hinksey Berkshire England Section 12 site 122.
No known and ownership at Farina.
The information in this profile of John Burnett SELTH was compiled by Farina Restoration volunteer Dave Roy.
John Burnett SELTH Farina memorial plaque
John Burnett SELTH RAAF 416795
John Burnett SELTH portrait
Lockheed Ventura Mk I RAF
Lockheed Ventura Mk I of No. 21 Squadron RAF at Methwold, Norfolk, 27 February 1943
Adelaide Chronicle Thu 23 Dec 1943 Family Notice
Family notice of John’s loss on active service.
Adelaide Advertiser Sat 28 December 1935 Pg 5 John B Selth moving schools
Thanking John for service at Mannahill on his transfer to Nunjikompita