Unknown RAF pilot?

[Andy Saunders]

I wonder if anyone can help shed some light on a mystery?

On Tues 8th September 1942 the body of an unidentified RAF pilot was found on the foreshore at Worthing, Sussex. On his tunic were "...three medal ribbons with two bars". He carried a service revolver with "Paddy & Doris" engraved on the grip.

Local searches at the Worthing Register office have not revealed any record of this discovery, and I have searched un vain through the local undertakers records and CWGC burials locally but cannot find any obvious match to this man. There are a few locally buried "unknown" airmen, but I have yet to match these unknowns to the Worthing discovery. In any event, that does not get us any closer to an i/d even if it solves the mystery of where he was buried. Of course, it could be that he was subsequently identified and buried as a named casualty. On the other hand, he could still be somewhere as an unknown.

All we know is that he died on or before the 8 September 1942, that two of his medals had a bar to them and he had a revolver marked "Paddy & Doris". We do not have a rank.

Its a bit difficult to reconcile what the three ribbons were, but it might be reasonable to assume the owner was someone called Paddy. Its easy, I know, to put two and two together and make five....but....? I am sure most of you will be ahead of me now. Maybe someone could offer other possibilities or suggestions? Or a positive identity of the casualty and/or a location of his burial place?

Andy Saunders