F/O W.G. Brooks, 541.Sqdn

[Heuser]

Dear all,

thank you very much for your efforts! Brooks was killed near the village of Eulau, NW of Naumburg - this matches with the objectives of sortie No.G4624.

Regards,

Heuser

[Col Bruggy]

Alex,

Re: No.541 Squadron Fatalities:

25/01/1943 - 541 Squadron.

25 January 1943 - 541 Squadron.

Pilot Officer A. G. Edwards in Spitfire V BR660 took-off at 1115 hours on sortie No. C907. Due to engine trouble the pilot was forced to bale out at a position south-west of Guernsey at approx. 1535 hours.

Allen Grayson Edwards, RAAF, s/n. AUS416166, age 35, son of Allen and Maud Edwards of Hyde Park, South Australia. Died on 25 January 1943 and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

RAF Benson:A Diary of Wartime Losses/Ottaway. p.64 + https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collec...25_019--1-.pdf - p.144 of 535 (Allan Storr quotes an incorrect serial, ie DR660. Should read: "BR660".)

12/06/1943 - PHYPERS, John.

12 June 1943. RAF Station Benson.

At 1340 hours Aircraftman 1st Class J. Phyphers was found shot dead in the adjutants office of 541 Squadron. Service and civil police are investigating.

John Phyphers, RAFVR, s/n 1611663, age 39, son of Alfred and Annie Phyphers of Acton, Middlesex. Died on 12 June 1943 and is buried in Benson (St. Helen) Churchyard Extension. An inquest into the death of Aircraftman Phyphers was held on 16 June 1943 and the verdict was that he had committed suicide by shooting himself with a Service revolver while the balance of his mind was disturbed.

RAF Benson/Ottaway. pp.80-1.

24/06/1943 - LAWRENCE, R. M. RCAF.

24 June 1943 - 541 Squadron.

Sergeant R. M. Lawrence in Spitfire XI MB792 took-off at 0530 hours on sortie No. D731 to Kiel but failed to return. A distress signal was sent from somewhere over the North Sea, just off the Hook of Holland, but no more was heard from the pilot.

Ralph Maurice Lawrence, RCAF, s/n R/103250, age 25. son of James and Hilda Lawrence of Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Died on 24 June 1943 and is buried in Flushing (Vlissingen) Cemetery, Holland.

RAF Benson/Ottaway. p.83.

04/11/1943 - 541 Squadron.

4 November 1943 - 541 Squadron.

Flying Officer R. O. MacLean (RAAF) in Spitfire XI MB908 took-off at 1005 hours on sortie No. S990 to the Bordeaux area but failed to return.

Roderick Orr MacLean RAAF, s/n. AUS409641, age 26, son of Roderick and Jeanetta MacLean of Caulfield, Victoria, Australia. Died on 4 November 1943 and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

RAF Benson/Ottaway. p.89 + https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collec...25_019--1-.pdf - p.305 of 535.

21/01/1944 - AITKEN, James McGinn -

21 January 1944 - 541 Squadron.

Flight Sergeant J Aitken in Spitfire XI EN503 took-off on an operations sortie at 1055 hours to the Pas de Calais but failed to return.

RAF Benson/Ottaway. p.98.


05/12/1944 - GRIFFITHS, William Stanwell - s/n. 170418 (not 1700418).

RAF Benson/Ottaway. p.126 + CWGC.

24/12/1944 - 541 Squadron.

24 December 1944 - 541 Squadron.

Flight Lieutenant N. P. Whaley in Spitfire XI PL919 took-off at 1055 hours on sortie No. G3908 to the Trier area but failed to return.

Noel Patrick Whaley DFC RNZAF, s/n. NZ412773, age 24, son of Edward ans Florence Whaley (nee Patterson) of Auckland, new Zealand. Died on 24 December 1944 and is buried in Hotton War cemetery, Belgium.

RAF Benson/Ottaway. p.127 + FYT2/303.

09/01/1945 - DE PUYSSELEYR, Joseph (Belgian).

9 January 1945 - 541 Squadron.

Flight Lieutenant J. F. V. de Puysseleyr in Spitfire X MD197 crashed in a snowstorm near Watford at 1318 hours.

RAF Benson/Ottaway. p.128.

21/03/1945 - 541 Squadron.

21 March 1945 - 541 Squadron.

Flying Officer F. P. Adlam (RNZAF) in Spitfire XIX RM635 took-off at 1745 hours on sortie No. G4951 but crashed at East Grinstead and was killed.

Frank Percival Adlam, RNZAF, s/n. NZ424403, age 29, son of Ernest and Jessie Adlam of Midhurst, Taranaki, New Zealand. Buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery.

RAF Benson/Ottaway. p.131 + FYT2/333.

Corrections/additions, more than welcome.

Col.

[Col Bruggy]

Hi Alex,

Re: 09/01/45 - DE PUYSSELEYR.

To answer your query: Yes, RAF Benson has a detailed index, quoting all serials mentioned in the text. PL900 does not rate a mention, at all!

"The Bible" (p.399)

Spitfire P.R. Mk.X.

MD197 - STN Benson 25-5-44 541S 25-5 HAL 15-7 CE ops 9-1-45 SOC 12-1.

Col.