[MW Giles]

It would appear that Gillanders has been unjustly overshadowed in the partnership
The Engbrecht & Gillanders - RCAF Air Gunners (bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca) article seems to be wrong in a number of respects.

Sgt P Engbrecht and Sgt G Gillanders arrived to join 424 Sqn on 12.05.44 (424 Sqn ORB) with the rest of their crew, including pilot F/O HA Kirkby. Sgt Engbrecht was the mid upper gunner (MUG) and SgtGillanders the rear gunner (RG)

They flew the first mission, a Gardening sortie to Scallops on 26/27.05.44

27/28.05.44 Flew in HX316/D to Bourg Leopold
BC Museum – Me110 and Fw190 destroyed

Combat report missing
424 Sqn ORB – HX316 Many fighters encountered and two definitely shot down by gunners
Skipton on Swale ORB – 424/D Two E/a destroyed
Bomber Command Monthly Summary – double claim by a 6 Group a/c but details unreadable

Interception/Tactics Report for Bourg Leopold Raid– S/e e/a destroyed outbound; Ju88 Des, Fw190 Des and Me109 destroyed over target; 2 x E/a destroyed and Fw190 destroyed on Southern Route home, Ju88 destroyed on Northern Route

In Action with Enemy (A Cooper) – S/e e/a destroyed and Fw190 damaged.

Conclusion claimed 2 x E/a destroyed, no indication which gunner responsible, types unclear

10/11.06.44 Flew in HX316/D to Versailles Matelots

Combat Report Me109 Destroyed 01:08 hrs (AIR 27/1836 p7) – both gunners listed
Combat Report Me110 Destroyed (AIR 27/1836 p8) – both gunners listed

Engbrecht fired total of 450 rds in both engagements, Gillanders 250 rds

Conclusion claimed Me109 and Me110 destroyed – both gunners involved


04/05.07.44 Flew in LV997/E to Villeneuve St Georges
Inconclusive combat with S/e e/a Gillanders fired 50 rds – no claim made (AIR 27/1836 p16)
Skipton on Swale ORB confirms 424 Sqn claims by 424/F and not Keys crew
6 Group Monthly Summary – confirms no claim in July 1944 by this crew

04.08.44 Engbrecht awarded CGM


07/08.08.44 Flew MZ802/G to La Hogue
BC Museum – Me410 and Ju88 destroyed by Keys crew

Interceptions/Tactics Report – 2 x S/e e/a destroyed by 3 and 6 Groups
BC Summary of Ops – 428 Sqn and 514 Sqn a/c claimed two Fw190s destroyed, confirming I/T Report
424 Sqn ORB – no mention
Skipton on Swale ORB – no mention
63 Base ORB – no fighters seen
No combat report found
6 Group Monthly Summary for August confirms known claims by 424 Sqn

Conclusion – no combat claims by Keys crew on this date

12/13.08.44 flew MZ802/G to Brunswick
BC Museum – Me210 destroyed and Ju88 probably destroyed

AIR 50/253/30 and 31 - Me210 destroyed 00:25 hrs – both gunners fired
AIR 50/253/34 - Me109 destroyed 01:03 hrs by Gillanders

424 Sqn ORB confirms – one of our a/c claimed to have destroyed two enemy fighters
Skipton on Swale ORB – confirms two combats – Me210 and Me109 (likely identification)
DFM citation for Gillanders confirms he shot down Me109 after sharing with Engbrecht claim on Me210.

Conclusion - accept account of claims given by AIR 50 records

16/17.08.44 flew MZ802/G to Kiel
BC Museum – Me110 probably destroyed by Gillanders and Engbrecht probably destroyed Me262

AIR 50/253/34 Gillanders claimed E/a probably destroyed at 00:40 hrs
AIR 27/1836 p 21 confirms (duplicate copy of Gillanders claim)

424 Sqn ORB – no mention
Skipton on Swale ORB – 424 Sqn E/a probably destroyed by RG
6 Group Monthly Summary for August confirms Gillanders claim, but no mention/trace of Me262

Conclusion claim made for E/a probably destroyed by RG, no claim awarded for Me262


13.10.44 Gillanders awarded DFM

Other oddities
In Action with the Enemy (Cooper) p 126/7 – Me109 and Me410 destroyed on 14.9.44 on Falaise sortie – mistaken date for 12.08.44 Brunswick raid

In Action with the Enemy (Cooper) – four nights later Gillanders claimed probable – mistake for 16.08.44 Kiel raid

I had a fun afternoon working that out. Primary sources are so much more interesting than surfing from websites

Martin