Four RAF Mediterranean losses - info needed please

[Mark E Horan]

I know this was posted long ago but ... I somehow missed it back then ... but I have details for the Beaufort mission and the crew of the lost plane.

Strike by Malta based Torpedo Striking Force 39 Squadron (Technically a combined mixture of mixture of 39 and 86 Squadron machines and crews). Nine aircraft were dispatched at 1645. Eight returned by 2245. Aircraft involved were 1st Vic (W, H, K), 2nd Vic (U, X, P) and 3rd Vic (A, B, and S [AW290]) .

The Italian convoy consisted of Tanker Giorgia (4,887 GRT), escorted by the Torpedo Boats Partenope and Polluce and it was located in a position 270 degrees, 36 nautical miles off ANTEPATOS at 1922 hours. The attack was not successful.

Beaufort A290 [39 Sqn, code S] was shot down by flak and crashed uncontrolled into the sea - all four of the crew were classified MPK [Missing Presumed Killed]:

(P) FO Lawrence Dewhurst, RAFVR 66012 (25)
(N) PO A. A. Turner, RAF 103588
(WO) Sgt. J. E. Littlewood, RAF 1056814
(TG) Sgt. G. Leadbeater, RAF 944127

I hope this is of interest. I have done extensive research into the Mediterranean Beaufort operations and have details of all strike forces [RAF Records] and the actual convoys attacked Italian Records] although I likely have made more than a few translation errors with the Italian records

Mark