Ex Malta Ace, John Plagis & 126 Spitfire sqdn
 

Hello all,

Is anyone able to help with; Spitfire serial / 126 sq code and a date please?

S/Ldr. John Agorastos Plagis, believed shot down in September (ish?) 1944 Arnhem area? He crash landed uninjured.

Many thanks.

Mervyn.

Re: Ex Malta Ace, John Plagis & 126 Spitfire sqdn
 

Hello Mervyn
I have the ORB for 126 Sqn on CD.
I have had a quick look at September & October 1944 and I can find no details of any crash landing as you describe.
There is one incident when S/L Plagis lost his tail wheel on take off but completed the mission and crash landed back at base on his return.

Ramrod 1280.
Took off Bradwell Bay at 1730 to escort Halifax bombers returning from Osnabruck.
S/L Plagis in Spitfire IXb ML214 5J K
Returned to base at 2020.

Regards
Andy

Re: Ex Malta Ace, John Plagis & 126 Spitfire sqdn
 

Was this October 10th?


/John

Re: Ex Malta Ace, John Plagis & 126 Spitfire sqdn
 

Hello Andy,

Thank you for the info !.

Regards,

Mervyn.

Re: Ex Malta Ace, John Plagis & 126 Spitfire sqdn
 

The events I described in my previous post occured on 13 September 1944.
126 Sqn did not carry out any operations on 10 October 1944.
Regards
Andy

Re: Ex Malta Ace, John Plagis & 126 Spitfire sqdn
 

Thank you.

The reason I mentioned October 10th is that ML214 had another accident that day. Do you know what happened?

/John

Re: Ex Malta Ace, John Plagis & 126 Spitfire sqdn
 

Hello John
There are no further details recorded for 10.10.44 in the ORB.
ML214 last apears in the ORB on the 7th October when it was used by S/L Plagis. After the 10th S/L Plagis used NH295 '5J E'.
Regards
Andy

Re: Ex Malta Ace, John Plagis & 126 Spitfire sqdn
 

Hello Andy,

Having had a further general search through various records etc, it would 'appear' from from these that J.P was indeed hit by flak over Arnhem on the 10th, subsequently making a high speed crash landing with minor injuries.

Can it be confirmed that 126sqdn were not active on that date with any missions or, any a/c?

Regards,

Mervyn

Re: Ex Malta Ace, John Plagis & 126 Spitfire sqdn
 

Hello Mervyn
It is immposible to confirm if 126 were or were not active on the 10th.
The ORB clearly states NO OPS, but this may be incorrect.
I have attached the relevent page from the ORB.
Regards
Andy

Re: Ex Malta Ace, John Plagis & 126 Spitfire sqdn
 

Hello again Andy,

Thanks for the ORB copy, as you said, no opps!

I will try and check backward & see where my info originated from.

Regards,

Mervyn.