[Col Bruggy]

Brian,

F/O ?? Furniss = 89326 Donald Raymond Munro FURNISS RAFVR(Later DSO, DFC)

114418 F/O Gavin William WALKER RAFVR, was killed on 27 September, 1942, not the 23rd., and "reportedly", under different circumstances to your account!

However, P/O Walker's luck tragically ran out on a sortie over Altenfjord on 27 September (1942), when his aircraft was brought down by rifle fire after he had been forced to descend to low level on account of the low cloud which often hung over the area . This was the only casualty suffered by Fairhurst's unit.

See:
Above All Unseen:The Royal Air Force's Photographic Reconnaissance Units 1939-1945.
Leaf,Edward.
Sparkford:Patrick Stevens Ltd.,1997.
p.74

I have the following "Orator" Spitfires: AB132, BP888, BP891 & BP923 (open to debate!).

1 September 1942 - RAF Station, Benson.

Russian Detachment.
At the beginning of September (1942), three Spitfires proceeded to Russia to carry out operations from a base there.

Russian Detachment Personnel.

Squadron Leader Wager to be Commanding Officer (possibly: 84386 S/L Lawrence Rickard WAGER RAFVR (later MiD).

Pilots:
Flight Lieutenant Fairhurst
Flying Officer Furniss
Pilot Officer Walker
Sergeant Hardman

Ground Staff.
Sergeant Greenwood
Corporal Beer
Corporal Ashton
Leading Aircraftman Cochrane
Aircraftman Taylor.

1 September 1942 - No.1 PRU Russian Detachment.

Three Spitfires left Sumburgh and arrived Afrikanda.

2 September 1942.

Three Spitfires arrived at Vaenga.

9 September 1942

One Spitfire U/S from bomb splinters after enemy attack.

19 September 1942

Sergeant Hardman arrived in PRU Spitfire at Vaenga after taking photographs of the Swedish/Finnish border on the way.

27 September 1942

Pilot Officer G W Walker reported missing from sorties ARC14 and ARC15.

See:
RAF Benson:A Diary of Wartime Losses.
Ottaway,Reginald H.
Andover:Speedman Press Ltd.,2010
pp.50-51

Col.