[Alex Smart]

Hi Mark,
I have to agree with Stig and Denniss on this.
Air Britain FAA Aircraft 1939 to 1945 has on page 287 -
JZ558 29 MU to ATA Hawarden 4.7.44; Tested RNARY Coimbatore 9-11.11.44; 857 Sqn Indomitable, Operation Meridian I, attack on Pladjoe oil refinery, shot down by Jap fighter, crashed in jungle in flames, Cat ZZ 24.1.45 (S/L REA Hibburd, S/L J. Mason & PO D H Duncan killed ).
On Page 288
JZ594 853 Sqn to 857 Sqn (W7A) 26.8.44; RNARY Ciombatore 10.44;857 Sqn Indomitable (W1A) 11.44; Operation Meridian I, strike on Pladjoe oil refinery, heavy flak & fighter opposition, drifted to stbd landing,stbd wing hit S4 pom-pom 24.1.45 (L/C W. Stuart & CPO WT Pirie); Weather aborted attacks on airfields, ditched over destroyer patrol, Cat Z 31.3.45 (L/C W Stuart & CPO WT Pirie picked up by Kempenfelt, then to Undine.
On Page 285
JZ501 Worthy Down SS to Lee 5.9.44; 849 Sqn Victorious (P1K) 11.44; Operation Lentil hole shot in port stubplane 4.1.45 (Lt RE Swain, S/L H Chandler & PO HS Holt); Operation Meridian I retd with engine trouble 24.1.45 (Lt RE Swain, Lt GE Huyton & POHS Holt); Unable to land Victorious due to crashed JZ386 on deck, out of fuel, ditched, Cat ZZ 5.2.45 (S/L RC Sheard & crew picked up by destroyer).

All for now if I see anything more I will enter it here -
JZ331 - Operation Meridian I, tail etc shot up by fighter 24.1.45 (S/L HE Stalker RNZN, PO H Copping OK, observer S/L JWR Lynn slightly injured); -
JZ332 - Operation Meridian I slightly damaged 24.1.45 (S/L DG Frampton OK & PO B Furmage; S/L J Wilson (O) injured) -
JZ379 - Operation Meridian I hit by flak presumed ditched after loss of fuel 24.1.45 (CPO HGC Mitchell, S/L A Hemmington & L/A C L Harris all killed) -
JZ383 - Operation Meridian I retd with engine trouble 24.1.45 (S/L B J Smith ) -
JZ469 - Operation Meridian I while climbing fire in electrical system, generator burning out, ditched bombs emergency landing 24.1.45 (S/L ARW Page) -

Alex