Darwin Spitfires
 

Three questions please,

How many kills were claimed by 54, 452 and 457 Squadrons in 1943 (I can list about 76 but my information isn't complete, and I am informed that 100 were claimed)?

How many kills were scored on 7th September, and who were the scorers?

I have these pilots as claiming highest with this wing, any I have missed?

Caldwell 8-0-0
Hall 2-0-2
Evans 1-0-1
Gibbs 5.5-0-5
Foster 5-1-3
James 2-1-0
Laundy 2-1-1
MacDonald 2-0-0
MacLean 2.5-0-2.5
Mawer 3-0-1
Smithson 4-0-1
Watson 4-0-2
Goldsmith 4-0-1


Goldsmith

Re: Darwin Spitfires
 

Hi Keith

Since no one else has responded I will endeavour to help!

A rough check shows that 1 Spitfire Wing was credited with 74 confirmed, 22 probables and 52 damaged in 1943, broken down as:

457 Squadron 28-9-20
54 Squadron 22 plus one shared, 6-20
452 Squadron 15-7-11
Wg Cdr Caldwell 7 plus one shared
Grp Capt Walters 1

I have yet to complete a detailed study and the above figures may be slightly inaccurate.

On 7/9/43 54 Squadron claimed 2 damaged; 452 Squadron: 1-1-3, and 457 Squadron: 4-1-2

Scorers: 54 Sqn: Appleton 1 damaged, Leonard 1 damaged
452 Sqn: Goldsmith 1 destroyed; Cowell 1 probable; King, Coombes and Bassett each 1 damaged
457 Sqn: MacLean 1 destroyed, 1 damaged; Watson 1 destroyed; Smithson 1 destroyed; Gregory/White 1 destroyed; MacKenzie 1 probable; Batchelor 1 damaged.

Hope this helps.

Maybe you or one of the other Aussie experts can help me with a query that has baffled me for many years! In the Australian publication RAAF LOG, pages 90-94, there is an account of a RAAF Spitfire pilot baling out following a combat with a Zeke during this period, named in the article as Brian Lambert. I have been unable to find a pilot of this name nor such an incident as described in the article. Can you help?

Cheers from chilly and damp England

Brian

Re: Darwin Spitfires
 

Hi Brian,

Could your man be the following case (despite different name):

A58-19F.VCBR241Arrived in Australia on SS Hoperidge 23/10/42. Delivered 10/42. Coded QY-T. Crash landing, Strauss Strip 01/43. Lost in combat with PltOff J.Lamberton 30/6/43 452Sqdn Converted to Components.

Source:
http://www.adf-serials.com/

Re: Darwin Spitfires
 

Hi Laurent

You're popping up everwhere!

Originally I wrote that Lamberton couldn't be our man because I thought he had been killed, but on checking CWGC this does not seem to be the case. I wonder?

Cheers
Brian