819 & 846 Sqns 2 April 1944

[keith A]

Sorry, Meed was Reginald Henry, not Richard

[BruceMk11]

Frank: are you sure of the serial number you listed for George Willcocks' Wildcat (FN332)? There was a JV332, which was a Wildcat V. The FN100-FN319 range was for the Wildcat IV. The entry in 'Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939-1945' for Wildcat IV FN136 indicates it was the a/c Willcocks was flying.

For anyone interested in Willcocks: born in Sydney 10/2/21; arrived Southampton, England, 28/6/39; returned to Australia in 1968; passed in Oct. 2010, Melbourne.

[ATCCbengt]

Can confirm that it was S/L T D Lucey who ditched his Wildcat after striking a U-boat on 2 April. Ref: ADM 207/31 846 Sqn. diary from the National Archive, Kew.

Bengt

[ATCCbengt]

And ADM 207/15 (diary 819 Sqn.) has Lt. Sangster and S/Lt. Vittle as the pilots who got the Ju 88.

Bengt

[Chris Goss]

At last! Thanks Bengt. It would appear it was W S Vittle-Wilfred Vittle was killed later in 1944

[Tom Semenza]

Bengt,

Does the diary state which a/c serial and code each was flying? The two involved were JV522 (R) and JV391 (S).

Thanks,
Tom

[keith A]

That means the Martlet/Wildcat with 57 or 58 confirmed victories made more kills than either the Corsair or the Hellcat