32 Sqn RAF: last victories

[BruceMk11]

According to what I've read, this unit only claimed eight more e/a destroyed after May 1943.

I believe a Ju 88 was claimed in December '43, but have no further details regarding that claim or the others.

Any details would be appreciated.

Bruce

[Brian]

Hi Bruce

You're in luck 'cos I hastily researched 32's records years ago out of curiosity and still have my notes:

29/1/43: P/O DR Higgin/P/O JM Hogg shared Ju88/or/He111

26/6/43: F/S G Francis FW190 damaged

10/7/43: F/S CP Ashworth RNZAF Bf109

24/7/43: F/S RH Anders Bf109; F/S LB Sissons Bf109 damaged

2/9/43: W/O GB Munro FW190 probable; F/S LB Sissons FW190 damaged

4/9/43: F/L JM Brodie FW190, F/O AR Millar FW190

7/9/43: F/O IM Rankin FW190, F/S HJ Miller FW190 damaged

??/12/43: F/L WD McKay, F/S WJ Smith, F/L JM Brodie shared Ju88

??/5/44: W/O WJ Smith Bf109, W/O A Rankin Bf109 damaged

??/11/44: P/O E Evans Ju52

Unfortunately, I didn't note relevant serial numbers or other details.

PS: Several years ago I interviewed W/C Bernie Hunter, who was the pilot of the Canberra shot down by Syrian Air Force during the Suez crisis (1956). He had served with 32 Squadron during this period and told me that he had shot down one enemy aircraft and shared another (both Bf109s, I believe), yet I couldn't find any record for him!

Should anyone be able to add anything whatsoever to the Hunter story or any of the above, I would be grateful to hear.

Hope this helps, Bruce

Cheers
Brian

[BruceMk11]

Thanks Brian, just what I was after. Did some digging myself:

Corran Ashworth: his entry in 'TOE' indicates his victory was shared with another pilot (and yet another source gives the date as the 9/7/43). He was flying Spit Vc JK713.

F/Lt JM Brodie (J/7602): was hit by flak and crashed 14/2/44; Spit VIII JK344. This Canadian is buried in the Belgrade War Cemetery.

F/Lt WD McKay: crashed due to engine failure at 1115 hrs between Klis and Kraj; Spit IX MA808. I couldn't find a match at CWGC. POW? Evaded?

F/O BL Hunter: could they have been ground claims that he mentioned?

F/Sgt HJ Miller: correct initials are HH.

Cheers,

Bruce

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Re: F/L W D McKAY.

J/4246 F/L Douglas William McKAY RCAF + 28 February 1944.

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2224279/

Col.

[Tom Semenza]

Here are possible IDs of some the above named pilots. I hope someone can either confirm or refute them.

Ralph Harold Anders (RAF 655494/176552) may be the same individual who served as a Tempest pilot in 80 Sqn. during 1945.

Gilbert Francis (RAF 1317792/187436)

Donald Richard Higgin (RAF 939196/128368) may have been a Sgt. Pilot in 222 Sqn. in May 1941.

John McLeod Hogg (RCAF J.10992). Died 12 Apr 43 with 32 Sqn.: http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/ca...0JOHN%20MCLEOD

H. H. Miller. The London Gazette lists a W/O H. H. Miller (511176) as being "mentioned in dispaches." Perhaps the same guy.

Ian Matthew Rankin (RAF 1179560/119258). Found in CWGC DoD 22 Jul 44 as a F/L. Buried in the Fayid War Cemetery in Egypt but no unit listed. His age is given as 22 and his parents address in Leistershire:
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/ca...0IAN%20MATTHEW. The Free BDM website shows an Ian M. Rankin born in 1922 in the same county, which fits nicely. However the London Gazette gives his name as Jan Matthew Rankin. Likewise the Air Force Lists show him as J. Matthew Rankin.

Tom

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

There is a possibility that the H H/H J Miller referred to, is:

NZ413877 P/O Henry James MILLAR RNZAF + 27/11/1943 No.32 Sqn. Spitfire VC JK548.

Col.

[BruceMk11]

Thanks for the additional info, Col and Tom.

The claims in May '44 were made at 1820 hrs on the 13th (vicinity of Viesti).

[Boris Ciglic]

Adding to 13 May claims, they encountered a pair of Bf 109G's of 2./NAGr.12, one of which was shot down near the islet of Sveti Andrija (also called Svetac), just west of Vis island. Its pilot bailed out, but his parachute failed to open.