Walrus serial number?
 

Hi guys

A Walrus (RAF or RN?) was shot down by a Bf109 on 30 September 1943 between Leros and Kos (Aegean).

Both pilot Flt Lt Frank Rashleigh DFC and his navigator Sgt Cliff Platt were killed (no gunner?).

I believe this aircraft had flown from Cyprus to Leros, before its fateful flight to Kos.

I can't find a serial number or unit. Can anyone help, please?

Cheers
Brian

Re: Walrus serial number?
 

Brian,

F/Lt Frank Rashleigh is mentioned in connection with 202 Squadron.

A local tribute here: http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/wsc/docs...lties%203.html

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Walrus serial number?
 

Cas Cards do not help. No serial, Rashleigh (pilot) was HQ RAF ME whilst Platt was 23 or 25 PTC. Both missing off Leros 1330 hrs. No other casualties on the card

Re: Walrus serial number?
 

Overseas War Deaths has Sgt Clifford Platt #1199632 as 23 PTC

Re: Walrus serial number?
 

Hello,
Possibly 701 Sqn RN.
700 sqn redesignated 701 sqn 1st Oct 42 at Beirut.
said to have used 6 Walrus a/c in the ASP role under control of 201 Gp RAF.
A detachment in Oct 42 to Latakia (235 wg RAF) on asp North between Cyprus and the Turkish Coast.Transfered back to RAF after disbanding on 15th Aug 43.

Back tracking,
7 Walrues based at Aboukir under the control of MEAF's201 (Naval Co-operation) Group flew patrols from Alexandria. From March 42 1 a/c was sent forward into the desert where it remained while the 6 others (half equipt with ASR) left Aboukir for Beirut becoming 700 Levant Sqn. Redesignated as 701 Sqn in August 42, operating between Egypt and the Turkish Coast until 15th Aug 43.

Walrus a/c I found in "FAA a/c 1939-45".that were " 701 Sqn Beirut " that may be worth checking out their history and their later RAF service .
L2249
P5669
W2706
W2708
W2709
W2710
W2760
W2767
W2788
W2789
W3011
W3012
W3013
W3014
W3016
W3017
W3089

W2760 is of note On Ferry flt crashed in sea off St. Jean, Syria found Cat Z 3.6.42, 4 bullet holes , all crew dead. Could this be the one you seek but wrong date ?

A lot more than 6 walruses !
Good luck
Alex

Re: Walrus serial number?
 

Crew of Walrus W2760 ?

3 June, 1942.

FAA, 700 Sqn, Grebe (Dekheila), Air crash

BAZZARD, Frank H, Ty/Sub Lieutenant (A) RNVR, Killed
GREET, Lionel E, Air Artificer 3c, FAA/FX 75064, Killed
JOLLIFFE, Kenneth M, Lieutenant, RM, Killed

http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1942-06JUN.htm

Col.

Re: Walrus serial number?
 

"Byond Courage" (Franks) page 59:
Ferry flight Walrus aircraft to Kos for improvement communications. Shot down by Bf 109 Major (Gruppenkommandeur) Ernst Düllberg of JG27 between Lesbos and Kalimnos. RASHLEIGH and PLATT commemorated resp. columns 267 and 271 of the Alamein Memorial.
Regards,
Henk.

Re: Walrus serial number?
 

Hi guys

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions but we're going slightly off track, even though it's very interesting!

I'm seeking the serial number of the Walrus shot down on 30 September 1943 between Leros and Kos - F/Lt Rashleigh's machine.

Cheers
Brian

Re: Walrus serial number?
 

Hello Brian.
Previous accidents that involved F/O. F. E. Rashleigh were:
Swordfish L2808 a seaplane of 202 Sqdn on 28/01/41
and
Shark K8517 of 2AACU that hit a house in xeter on 28/01/40.
So it looks like he was a long time attached to RN type aircraft.
Alex

Re: Walrus serial number?
 

Suggest other 2 crew of Shark K8517 on January 28, 1940 (there were 3 crew) were

Sgt HerringAC2 Drake

Would like confirmation if possible though

Re: Walrus serial number?
 

Hello,
I also came accross the following.
W3047 - MkII - Engine failed on take off, nose dipped, a/c abandoned, sank off Dunnet Head,Caithness, Cat E 8.6.43 ( F/Sgt. Richmond RAF & F/Sgt. Platt RAF picked up by dinghy from "Royal") - per ORB, no serial given . Casualty card has F/Sgt C G Abel RAF OK & W/O F A McIntosh RAF injured.
Looks like the names and paperwork may have been mixed up if Richmond & Platt are replaced by Rashleigh & Platt and which were "picked up" ( could have meant that bodies were picked up) by dinghy from "Royal" and was she in the Med at the time and that the walrus serial was not recorded ?
Alex

Re: Walrus serial number?
 

I know who that two other crewmen of Shark Floatplane K8517 of C Flight 2 AACU at RAF Mount Batten who baled out when it crashed on January 28, 1940 in Exeter are Sgt Edward Lloyd Foulds #581369 and LAC John Meiros Exton #537204

Still looking for a late 1939 or early 1940 bale out for "Sgt Herring" and "AC2 Drake"

Re: Walrus serial number?
 

Further to the earlier posts, I have the following information:

Flt Lt Rashleigh was serving with HQ RAF Middle East. He was directed to join Flt Lt Balfour as his second-in-command of a special unit established to ascertain the possibilities of Aboukir, Castellorosso, Cos and Leros being used as bases for transport and mail services between Egypt and the Dodecanese Islands. Flt Lt Balfour has arrived at Leros on 24th September 1943 to ascertain the possibility of using Italian floatplanes that were reported as being stationed there. He subsequently discovered that Flt Lt Rashleigh's aircraft, a Naval Walrus on loan specifically for this mission, had been attacked and shot down by enemy Me109s on 30th September. The aircraft came down approximately five miles south east of Leros. No trace of the aircraft or crew was ever found. Flt Lt Rashleigh was flying with 1199632 Sgt Clifford Platt, his navigator, and carrying a passenger, Major Landon Royal Engineers.

The above is an extract from a letter I received from the Air Historical Branch in March 2003. Frank Rashleigh was my grandfather.