No. 89 Squadron Malta Detachment, 1942

[Nick Beale]

Curses, foiled again!

Thanks Russell.

[AUS_RAAF]

Hi Nick,

I have some document copies relating to the Australians with 89 Squadron during this period – Gray, Crombie, Shipard and Ross. These were sourced from an Australian War Memorial file donated by author Lex McAuley (Against All Odds) and include notes from presumably the ORB, logbooks and other files – date range Jun 42 until Dec 42. Are there any specific details you are after from the October 42 period? Am happy to do a lookup for you.

Regards, Drew

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by AUS_RAAF

Hi Nick,

I have some document copies relating to the Australians with 89 Squadron during this period – Gray, Crombie, Shipard and Ross. These were sourced from an Australian War Memorial file donated by author Lex McAuley (Against All Odds) and include notes from presumably the ORB, logbooks and other files – date range Jun 42 until Dec 42. Are there any specific details you are after from the October 42 period? Am happy to do a lookup for you.

Regards, Drew

Thanks, Drew. I'm interested in two "special" Beaufighters, X7702 "K" and X7695 "S", which were modified to deal with German jamming of A.I. Mk. IV and VHF voice traffic. Also any reference to jamming, or to A.I. Mk. VII which the detachment had in a handful of machines.

This is what it's all in aid of, by the way: http://www.ghostbombers.com/recon/Koch/koch_01.html

[AUS_RAAF]

Hi Nick,

89 Squadron’s first detachment to Malta included RAAF pilots MC Shipard and JMcK Ross. Shipard remained until 20th Oct. CA Crombie and KJ Gray were the Australian contingent of the second detachment to Malta on 20th Sept 42. All three flew X7702 and X7695. I have copies of logbook pages for Shipard, Ross and Crombie while the details for Gray come from handwritten notes. These notes look like they were sourced from the ORB as there are a few entries for non-Australian personnel. Perhaps the October pages were still around when McAuley did his research for Against All Odds?

Anyway I will send you a PM with flight listings for the above aircrew in both the Beaufighters. Hopefully it might help a little with your research.

Regards, Drew

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

If I may, the correct spelling of Lex's surname is "McAULAY", not McAULEY.

Col.

[Tom Semenza]

Hi Nick,

Just curious what your source for the codes for X7695 and X7702 is? Aces High shows X7702 as "T" when flown by Fumerton and Reeves during June and July.

Thanks,
Tom