Baltimore Loss 10 Jul 43

[Col Bruggy]

Chris,

Sat 10 July 1943
Mediterranean Air Command
Strike against E-boats at Kastelli Selinos, Crete.
203 Squadron, RAF (Berka III [Benghazi], Libya - 247 Wing, 201 Group, Middle East Air Command)

Baltimore III AG917 - took off at 1115 piloted by Lt H W Nottingham, SAAF, accompanied by two Beaufighters. Hit by flak during the strike, only the pilot succeeded in baling out before it plunged into the sea off Crete. His three crew are commemorated on the Alamein Memorial, while Nottingham, who was apparently injured or wounded, died in captivity three days later and is buried at Athens.

WOpAG: NZ403085 Wt Off Anthony Stuart ROBERTS, RNZAF - Age 25. 287hrs. 13th op.

See:
For Your Tomorrow:A Record of New Zealanders who have Died while Serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915. Volume Two: Fates 1943-1998.
Martyn,Errol W.
Christchurch:Volplane Press,1999.
p.118.

97291V Lt (Pilot) Hugh Williams NOTTINGHAM SAAF (+ 13-7-43)
1005342 Sgt (Nav.) Wilfred Bates DONNER RAFVR (+ 10-7-43)
1310873 F/Sgt (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Arthur Henry OLDHAM RAFVR (+ 10-7-43)
NZ403085 W/O (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Anthony Stuart ROBERTS RNZAF (+ 10-7-43)

Col.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Gentlemen. The Beaufighter crews saw the pilot bale out. I have 3 camera gun shots of the attack but nothing that shows the crash of this aircraft