Lt.-Cmdr Allen Burgham, No. 835 Squadron

[Frank Olynyk]

Does anyone have the PRO references to the combat reports from the Murmansk convoy action? Did anybody else make any claims? I must have missed them when I went through the ADM/ files.

Frank.

[keith A]

The Murmansk claims seem to be confused. I have tried for years to separate ship AA claims from those of 813 and 835 Squadron. I believe 835 claimed 4, with 5 probables. 835 were flying the Wildcat VI.

[Brian]

Hi guys

While on the subject of FAA combats, losses and claims, has anyone been able to determine who claimed what during the Sepember 1942 PQ18 convoy? I have requested this information before, but to no avail. Sea Hurricanes from 802 and 833 Squadrons operated from HMS Avenger and were credited with several kills, but who scored? DSCs were subsequently awarded to two pilots for their part in the operation, but I have not seen citations. They were Lt AR Laurie and S/Lt IP Garrow. A DSO went to Lt PWV Massy DSC.

In hope

Brian

[keith A]

From the information I have I think Laurie and Garrow (802 Sqn) shared claims for a Ju88 and a He111, with another damaged. SLt PJ Williams added another Ju88. Massy (883 Sqn) claimed a He111, and another probable. Only 5 kills are registered and its possible that Garrow and Laurie each claimed 2 but I think shared claims are more likely.

[keith A]

The Murmansk convoy saw kills to

06.2.45 1-0-0 ju88 Lt RA Fleischmann-Allen/813,
07.2.45 0-1-0 ju88 SLt Armitage, SLtSargent/835
09.2.45 0-1-0 JU88 Lt AL Burgham/835
10.2.45 0-2-1 ju88 SLt PJW Davies, Lt JA Quigg/813
10.2.45 1-0-0 ju88 SLt Mearns, SLt Moss/835
10.2.45 1-0-0 ju88 Lt AL Burgham/835
20.2.45 0-1-0 ju88 SLt Sargent, SLt OK Armitage/835
20.2.45 1-0-0 ju88 SLt PH Blanco, SLt GD Gordon/835

[Frank Olynyk]

Keith,

Do you know where in the NA/PRO to find the combat reports for the combats of 835 Sqn that you listed above? I have the reports for 813 Sqn, although only 0/1/1 for Feb 10 (I must recheck that one). I will be at the PRO in September/October, and would like to get copies of the 835 Sqn reports. I would have thought that they should be in the same bound volume as the 813 reports, but I must have missed them.

If you do not know where the combat reports are, what is your source for the above information? Roskill doesn't usually give that kind of detail, and in this case at least Brown (Carrier Operations in WW2, Vol 1) gives only the totals of 4/5/0.

Frank.

[keith A]

Sorry Frank,

I replied earlier but it disappeared. my information comes from Ray Sturtivants "Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939-1945" (Grumman Wildcat fm2/Wildcat VI) and Barringers "Alone in a wide, wide sea". Along with "Bring back my Stringbag" by John Godfrey and half a dozen others dealing with the Russian convoys.

Good luck with your search. I would be interested if there was a definitive record of claims. It seems to differ with every work I have read.

regards

Keith

[phasselgren]

Originally Posted by keith A

The Murmansk convoy saw kills to

06.2.45 1-0-0 ju88 Lt RA Fleischmann-Allen/813,
07.2.45 0-1-0 ju88 SLt Armitage, SLtSargent/835
09.2.45 0-1-0 JU88 Lt AL Burgham/835
10.2.45 0-2-1 ju88 SLt PJW Davies, Lt JA Quigg/813
10.2.45 1-0-0 ju88 SLt Mearns, SLt Moss/835
10.2.45 1-0-0 ju88 Lt AL Burgham/835
20.2.45 0-1-0 ju88 SLt Sargent, SLt OK Armitage/835
20.2.45 1-0-0 ju88 SLt PH Blanco, SLt GD Gordon/835

Hi Keith,

Besides Burgham there are two other RNZNVR pilots in this list: Slt Armitage and Lt JA Quigg. Can you help me with more information about claims made by one other RNZNVR pilot? Lt(A) AC Martin 896 Sqn/HMS Pursuer he made claims aginst german bomber(s) in the same area and and period (according to the official history of The Royal New Zealand Navy during WW II).

Thanks in advance
Peter

[Robert Todd]

While Burgham was credited with one Ju 88 on the 9th and one on the 10th, he in fact did set another on fire on the 10th but it disappeared into cloud`and he did not see it go into the sea. He was flying a Wildcat VI at the time. The great feats of flying during those convoys out and back were the desperate weather conditions with winds on the 17th of February still gustinbg to over 70 miles per hour. And of course it was dark. These were not night fighters! The ship was only 68 feet wide and had a useable deck landing space of 490 feet.
Many Luftwaffe crews that survived the attack of the 17th, a direct order from Goering to "get the carrier" as a present for Hitler on his bithday, did not make it back. Those that did escape the combat were damaged or low on fuel and many crashed into the Norwegian mountains.

[Robert Todd]

By the way Keith, Burgham not only lost his NUmber two, Charles Richardson, in action in thier Hurricanes in 1944 but also lost his Number Two, "Dusty" Miller in action during combat in December of 1944. That was to friendly fire when Miller, in the dark, was coming in to land with full landing lights on, undercarriage down and waggling his wings. The admiral, McGrigor was furious. The fire probably came from the cruiser HMS Bellona. That same time Bellona opened up on Burgham as he came in after flying on instruments and attempting to find the convoy for over an hour and being directed by Nairana's Fighter Direction Officer. For those actions Burgham was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.