Help please: 137 Sqdn Combat loss & French/German files
 

On the night of 17/18th May 1943 F/O Eddie Musgrave RAAF of 137 Squadron was lost in the Gravelines area - presumably shot down by flak.

I had the opportunity in 2007 to visit his grave in Pihen-les-Guines cemetery.

Other than what is recorded here, and in 137 Sqdn's ORB, I have no further details on the combat.

File Number 61/3/AIR – Enclosure 86A

FROM: 11 Group Intelligence.
AI/708 The following received from Manston.

Composite Ant-shipping Patrol Report. 17/18th May, 1943

(A) 137 (B) 1 Whirlwind Bomber. F/O Musgrave (R.A.A.F.) (C) 0110
(D) Shipping Gravelines area. (E) N/A (F) Not known
(G) 1 Whirlwind Bomber, F/O Musgrave N.Y.R.

GENERAL: - Informed by Swingate of Pilot making second attack with cannon 0132 hours. Not plotted or heard of since.

I would be interested in seeing what records the French/Germans might have that could shed any further light on Eddie's final operational mission and P7063 the Whirlwind he flew. Is there anyone who could please point me in the right direction?

Thank you all in advance.

Paul

Re: Help please: 137 Sqdn Combat loss & French/German files
 

Just a gentle bump on the off chance that someone may be be able to help. TIA.

Re: Help please: 137 Sqdn Combat loss & French/German files
 

Hello ,

Here some info on P/O Musgrave :

On 01 february 1943 P/O Musgrave E RAAF 137 squadron shot down Fw-190A-4 werknumber 45622 Black 2 from 8./JG26 near Beselare Belgium . The Fw-190 was flown by Uffz Wälter Heinrich , KIA , born 01/01/1920 at Lauterbach , buried Bourdon ( France ) 32/8/135.

Re: Help please: 137 Sqdn Combat loss & French/German files
 

Thanks very much for that Alain.
The extra details you provided for Uffz Wälter Heinrich will prove useful.
You might be interested to know that according to Eddie Musgrave's combat report for this mission that he made no claim for the Fw-190. He fired a short burst using two rings of deflection as he tried to turn away from his attackers and escape into cloud.
Paul

Re: Help please: 137 Sqdn Combat loss & French/German files
 

Thanks for the additional info
Alain

Re: Help please: 137 Sqdn Combat loss & French/German files
 

You're welcome Alain.

Paul

Re: Help please: 137 Sqdn Combat loss & French/German files
 

Hi,

Uffz. Wälter was shot down by P/O Musgrave on 28 January 1943.

Re: Help please: 137 Sqdn Combat loss & French/German files
 

Indeed , i was wrong about the date
Alain57

Re: Help please: 137 Sqdn Combat loss & French/German files
 

Hi Paul,

Could you send me a private e-mail on fairlopATemail.cz please ?
I am preparing second part of a comprehensive article about Whirlwinds, including F/O Musgrave, for our Revi magazine.

Regards,
Michal