Arrived at 2OTU on 14 Apr 1943.  At 2OTU’s Williamtown Detachment on 27 Apr 1943, Blackie was flying Spitfire (A58-120) engaged in line astern chase with another Spitfire (A58-93) flown by Sergeant D.A. Grinlington (RAF), when the two aircraft collided in mid-air at approximately 1132 hours. Blackie’s aircraft spun out of control into the ground about 3-miles south-west of Williamtown while Grinlington was uninjured and managed to land his Spitfire back on the aerodrome (albeit badly) wheels up.