Sq Leader Pat Gifford

[Robert Reid]

KIA May16 1940 3sq RAF ,no listed burial, anyone with any information regarding loss.
Have some info he crosssed allied lines pursuing ME109 and did not return.
Also told that he was shot down by Adolf Galland. In Galland's claims list nothing for this day.
Gifford had shot down first Luftwaffe aircraft 16 Oct 1939 near Edinburgh
while flying with 603 Sq

thanks Robert

[Peter Cornwell]

Robert,

All I have from The Battle of France Then & Now:

3 SQUADRON, MERVILLE

Hurricane P2825. Shot down in combat with Bf110s of 1./ZG1 near Wavre 6.15 p.m. Squadron Leader P. Gifford missing. Aircraft a write-off.

[Andy Saunders]

I was in touch with Pat Gifford's two elderly sisters, and have a copy of his 1939/40 diary which makes a fascinating read. It was found in France (1940) by a German serviceman who returned it, postwar, to the Gifford family.

He was certainly ""missing" as both you and Peter Cornwell indicate and, as such, is commemorated by name on the Runnymede Memorial. I need to dig out my file, but I think he was shot during during an attack on a German mechanized convoy.

[Robert Reid]

I thought That he had been buried near his aircraft but.who knows.

Wonder if the exect crash site is known.

Who was credited with shooting him down , I understand it was pilot from ZG 1 ?

Robert Reid

[gedburke3]

Hi Andy,
Around the same date in May and only 50 km from where we are looking!
Could it be a possible?
Gerry

[Andy Saunders]

Interesting Gerry!

[Dean M. Wick]

Greetings: You may be aware that Brian Cull, in "12 days in May" suggests the possibility that Gifford was shot down by Lt. Heinrich Brucksch of 1/ZG1, Brucksch himself being shot down and killed immediately after, possibly by Sgt. Wilkinson, also of 3 Sqn. There is a narrative by Sgt. Wilkinson concerning this action on Pg.168. Regards. Dean

[Robert Reid]

Dean thanks for info.
I guess find Brucksch crash site then start asking questions ,might help find Gifford site I suppose.

Robert