Help research Flt Lt PA Woodger RAF in Malta

[Shiny1019]

Hi All,

I'm trying to research a relative, Phillip Alexander Woodger who was shot down in Malta, I believe at some point during August 1942.

I haven't managed to get his service record yet so have no idea what squadron he was part of in Malta but I know he was posted there sometime around December 1941 / January 1942 and that he was captured and sent to Stallag Luft 3.

From the documents I have found on line I know he was captured on the 28th of August 1942 and family story has it that he was captured by the Italians and handed over to the Germans.

I have been trying to find out about the action he was involved in, presumably he was shot down?

I have looked in a book called Air Battle of Malta but he's not named in it and it says that only records crashes and losses over the island but there are 200 more that went down in the sea that haven't been researched.

In case it helps I know he was a survivor of the SS Empire Wave and that it had a catapult launched Hurricane on board so presumably that was what he was flying.

Can anyone help?

Thanks a lot,

Michael