3 Sqn 12 Jan 41

[JohnE]

Weston, Ralph Coulter RCAF C/1330.

Fenton, Walter Oswald 745092.

/John Engelsted

[Chris Goss]

Thanks John. He appears to have died 28 Jun 41. I thought maybe it was Sgt G H Fenton who was with 54 Sqn but then killed in March 1942

[Tom Semenza]

Chris,

I can confirm John's ID of Fenton, as he was posted out of 3 Sqn. on 22 March 41. The ORB gives his service number.

Frank,

Thank you for your comments on Weston. Both Combats & Casualties and Foreman's RAF Fighter Command Victory Claims had indicated that Berry alone was credited with the claims on Jan. 12 & 17. However, as you indicated, the ORB clearly states that the Jan. 12 claim was shared by Berry, Weston and Fenton, although the Do 215 seems to have been claimed as destroyed rather than as a probable. There is also a claim on Jan. 16 in the ORB, not mentioned in either of the above sources, for a Ju 88 probable shared by Berry and P/O P.A. Harris.

As for the claim for the He 111 on Jan. 17, there is an interesting twist in the Form 541. F/O Watson, rather than Weston, is listed as sharing this claim with Berry. However there is an asterisk after Watson's name with a hand written annotation at the bottom of the page as follows:

"*Sqn. manuscript diary says F/O Weston. There were both F/O R C Weston and (F/O) F.S. Watson - both Canadians on the Sqn."

The latter was Frederick Stanley Watson (C1372). The names of the pilots were not given in the Form 540.

Regards,
Tom

[Chris Goss]

12 Jan 41 ac appears to be a Wekusta 1 OBdL Do 17 Z which returned with two wounded crew to Stavanger. Another over optimistic claim!