Beaufort Loss 25 Oct 42

[Chris Goss]

On this date, DW834 was lost over the Med. Some records say the unit was 47 Sqn (nothing in F540), 217 Sqn (nothing in F540) or 1 OADU. It has also been stated that it was lost off Tobruk attacking a ship. I am trying to confirm this once and for all as a Ju 88 from 10./ZG 26 had a 20 minute combat with a "Beaufighter" eventually shooting it down; only one Beaufighter was lost this day (CO 272 Sqn) but this was in the afternoon; this combat was in the morning. No mention of Ju 88s was made by 272 Sqn who thought CO had collided with a Ju 52 off Tobruk

[Darius]

Hi Chris,

I took a look in my naval documents:

a) KTB Seekriegsleitung, 25.10.1942:
[...]Mittelmeerraum: Bei Durchführung von Geleitschutz und Lufttransportsicherung wurden 5 Beaufighter abgeschossen.[...]


[...] Tanker "Alfredo" ist 1320 Uhr in Tobruk eingelaufen, nachdem er 0900 18sm nördlich Tobruk fdl. Flugzeugangriff entgangen ist. 1430 Uhr wurde Geleit T. "Proserpina", Dampfer "Dora" und Tanker "Tergestea" auf Marsch von Griechenland nach Tobruk von fdl. Flugzeugaufklärung erfaßt.[...]


Maybe the Beaufort was lost after attacking the "Alfredo"?



Regards


Darius

[Chris Goss]

Darius: Thanks for this. 10./ZG 26 reported shooting down a Beaufighter trying to attack the ship they were escorting at 1116hrs. The incident in the afternoon was another attack but only one Beaufighter was lost from 272 Sqn. The following day was another matter!

[Nick Beale]

From my own account of the Alfredo convoy:

Escort after dark on 24 October was to be the usual two RCM aircraft plus a night fighter or bomber and, from daybreak, six bombers and four Zerstörer continuously overhead. Then, from nightfall on the 25th two jammers and a Do 217 night fighter would again be assigned, plus two Ju 88 bombers assigned to shoot down flares, at least 12 of which were seen. Overnight the British dropped torpedoes and bombs without success and the Junkers claimed damage to a Wellington and two "Hampdens" encountered near the convoy but the Do 217 made no contact with the enemy.

So was this Beaufort identified as a Hampden, perhaps?

[Stig Jarlevik]

Chris

Roger Hayward in the book The Beaufort File (Air Britain) claims the unit was 47Sq and a statement
"Shot down by flak during shipping strike off Tobruk 26.10.42"

Do you have access to the AM 78 card? I think I can get hold of it for you.

Cheers
Stig

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Stig. The only loss I have for 47 Sqn was Fg Off Walter Garriock in DE110 or DE115 who collided with a Bisley. Typically no mention of serials in the F540. This is where the confusion is creeping in-both days were very confused from both sides

[Alex Smart]

Beaufort DW834 of 1 OADU, lost over the Mediterranean area 25/10/1942.
Quick search found -
F/O. M M Liebeck -J/9774 - RCAF.
F/O. F E Wickstrom - J/9642 - RCAF.
Both killed.
Additionally possibly killed -
F/O. Richard Alanson Bendwig - J/10157 - RCAF.

All three have same death date and are also on the Malta Memorial panel 4, column 1.

[AndyMa]

My suspicion is that the aircraft was on delivery to 47 Sqn, which would account for the various different units.
Whilst doing a little bit of digging over on RAF Commands, I came across another very likely crew member, F/O Richard Alanson BENDWIG (J/10157). A poster there notes that his RCAF service file reports him missing 25th October 1942 with a handwritten note "left Luqa for M.E. believed shot down E.A. transit flight Luqa."

[Chris Goss]

Thanks all. Bendwig was American and the pilot. Still waiting for AHB to come up. with something from the Casualty Cards but what Andy says looks feasible.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Chris (All)

Having checked the AM 78 card for DW834 there is no mentioning of any "operational" units at all.
20 MU 21.8.1942
2 OAPU 1.9.1942
1 FTU 16.9.1942
1 OADU 29.9.1942
sent to the ME (en route to Gibraltar) 12.10.1942
Reported as having an accident overseas (category FB)
SOC 27.10.1942

This of course begs the question from where the two operational units stated come from.
47 Sq (well I have the Beaufort File)
217 Sq?? A very odd statement since the unit was (by October) in the Far East.

I think Andy is close enough and I agree with his thoughts. Aircraft seems to have been in some
kind of transfer from 1 OADU to 47 Sq when it was shot down.

Unfortunately it gets us no closer to when/how it was lost.....unless we take Hayward at face value
and stick with his "lost to AAA fire".

B Rgds
Stig