Frederick A Duquette 272 Squadron RAF/RCAF Malta

[theramin]

Hello, my name is Jamie Duquette. I am doing some historical research on my great uncle Frederick Albert Duquette who was a Flight Sergeant for the RAF 272 Squadron based in Malta during WW II. He also trained in various facilities in Canada in the United Kingdom before ending up in Malta. He was originally from North Bay, Ontario, Canada.

He sadly perished along with his radio observer Albert J Johnson on a return trip from Egypt crashing his Beaufighter MARK VI serial # EL 529 in the Mediterrean on May 8th, 1943 30 miles off Malta in rough weather.

I am in the process of compiling an archive of official records as well as personal letters and flight logs which have surface. If anyone has any information I gladly wish to share anything I have found. I am also looking for info on the crash itself. Here is a breakdown of some events before and leading up to the event. Thank you for your time. ps. his C.O. was J.K. Buchanan and I have personal letters from him mailed to family members relating the details of the crash. I would also be looking for information on other pilots/observers from the time in question.

Thank you very much.

FD ARRIVED AT LUQA airport jan 16th, 1943:
(in same DC3):

1. SGT DUQUETTE AND SGT JOHNSON
2. SGT BULLEN AND SGT GLAZEBROOK (WENT ON TO SQUADRON 227 AFTER ARRIVAL)
3. SGT BROADHEAD AND SGT BRADSHAW
4. SGT WILLIAMS AND SGT WATERS

MAY 3RD, 1943 CONVOY ESCORT OPERATION (FD RETURNED SAFELY) - ASSUMED TO HAVE FLOWN
OUT OF TA KALI AIRPORT.

1. PLANE 1: GT.5085- F/O WELFARE D., P/O BELLIS D.B. (letter sent to UK 0909),
2. PLANE 2: JT.5170- S/LD COLEMAN G.B.S., SGT LYRE-HALE
3. PLANE 3: C.T.5114 P/O FRAZEE D.W., SGT SANDERY M.L
4. PLANE 4: R.X. 7759 F/S DUQUETTE F.A., SGT JOHNSON A.W. *

MAY 7TH, 1943

THREE CREWS FLEW OUT OF TA KALI AIRPORT TO FERRY BACK THREE NEW AIRCRAFT
TO B.A.R.U., M.E. ( WHERE WAS THIS?)
1. CREW ONE: S/LDR COLEMAN, SGT LYNE-HALE
2. F/O PROCTER, SGT MCINES
3. F/SGT DUQUETTE, SGT JOHNSON

ALL THREE CREWS FLEW OUT IN SAME AIRCRAFT (NUMBER AND TYPE UNKNOWN).

-

MAY 8TH 1943 (DAY OF INCIDENT)

A FORMATION OF THREE BEAUFIGHTERS LEFT EGYPT FOR TA KALI.
1. S/LDR COLEMAN WHO WAS LEADING THE FORMATION JUST MANAGED TO MAKE TA KALI
BUT OVERTURNED THE AIRCRAFT UPON LANDING.
2. F/O PROCTOR FLEW THE REMAINING AIRCRAFT OF THE FORMATION OF THREE HAD ENGINE
TROUBLE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE FLIGHT FROM EGYPT AND FORCED LANDED AT
MERSA MATRUH.
3. F/SGT DUQUETTE, SGT JOHNSON HAD TO BALE OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT (LACK OF PETROL)
BUT WERE LOST IN HEAVY SEAS 30 MILES OUT.
4. THE FOUR SPITFIRES SENT OUT TO SEARCH FOR FD AND SGT JOHNSON WERE FROM
SQUADRON 185. BOTH CREWMEN WERE SEEN BEING DRAGGED BY THEIR PARACHUTES BEFORE BEING LOST FROM SIGHT. 185 WAS RELIEVED BY OTHERS FROM 229 SQUADRON. ONLY WRECKAGE OF AIRCRAFT, EMPTY DINGHY AND OIL PATCH WERE SEEN.