603 Squadron Beaufighters

[keith A]

This squadron seems to have scored around 16 kills in aerial combat from September 1943 until July 1944 (their last kill in Beaufighters coming on 23 July 1944? Does anyone have details of these claims. I have tried the 603 Squadron history however it gives very little details.

regards

Keith

[andy bird]

Hi Keith,

Guess you've tried the 603 Squadron book "The Greatest Squadron of Them All" by David Ross?

At RAF Museum London they hold 'Chris' Foxley-Norris's Log Book, he kept a tally of M/V's, E/A that the squadron attacked etc., inside the log book.

I'm in touch with a few of the chaps, as 99% went onto fly Mosquitoes with the Banff Strike Wing after returning to the UK in Dec' 1944.

Kind Regards
Andrew D. Bird

[AUS_RAAF]

Hi Keith,

I have also had an interest in 603’s Beaufighter claims. There is an interesting article at the following link. It includes a photo of a Ju 52 shot down by Sgt Pete Penny, unfortunately with no date and no further mention of the incident within the main text!
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchi...0-%201229.html

The following rough tally has been compiled from various secondary sources including Armed Rovers, Greatest Squadron of Them All Vol 2, Those other Eagles and Aces High. There are probably plenty of gaps, some errors and also possible confusion with claims of other coastal strike squadrons such as 47 Sqn RAF. Any corrections or additions welcome from other forum members!

Regards, Drew

11 Sept 43
2 Ar 196 dam: u/k

24 Sept 43 (first confirmed Beaufighter victories for unit)
1 Ju 52 dest: G.M.L. Doube (RAAF)
1 Ju 52 dest: Chater
1 Ju 52 dest: Megone
1 Ju 52 dam: Chater

19 Oct 43
1 Ar 196 dest: Watters
1 Ar 196 prob: u/k

6 Nov 43
1 Ar 196 dest: K.I.E. Hopkins (RAAF)
1 Ar 196 dam: u/k

7 Nov 43
1 Ar 196 dest: u/k

9 Nov 43
2 Ar 196 dest: u/k

10 Nov 43
1? Bf 109 dest: Watters

16 Nov 43
1 Ar 196 dest: u/k
1 Ar 196 dam: u/k

16 Jan 44 (maybe confused with claims on 27 Jan 44)
3 Ar 196 dest: u/k
2 Ju 52 dest: u/k

22 Jan 44
1 Ar 196 dest: u/k

27 Jan 44
1 Ar 196 dest: Pringle
1 Ar 196 dest: Edgar
2 Ar 196 dest: P.G. Spooner (RAAF) or Rooks
1 Ju 52 dest: Edgar
1 or 2 Ju 52 dest: Pringle
1 Ju 52 dest: P.G. Spooner (RAAF) or Rooks

22 Feb 44
1 Ar 196 dam: Pringle

14 May 44
2 Ju 52 dest: shared between Simpson (RNZAF) & u/k
1 Ar 196 dam: Simpson (RNZAF)

1 Jun 44
1 Ar 196 dest: u/k
1 Bf 109 dest: u/k
1 Ar 196 prob: u/k
2 Ar 196 dam: u/k

23 Jun 44
1 enemy a/c dest: de Bouneviale

5 Sept 44
1 enemy a/c dam: u/k

[Bruce Lander]

Hi,

the claims list I have is as follows :

24/9/43 W/C H.A.Chater Ju.52, Ju52 (D)
P/O C.B.Megone. Ju.52
W/O M.L.Doube. Ju.52

6/11/43 P/O R.H.Giles Ar.196

8/11/43 P/O R.H.Giles Ar.196

9/11/43 P/O R.A.McKendrik Ar.196
W/O F.M.Fox
F/Sgt W.A.Escott
F/Sgt E.T.Lynch

10/11/43 Unknown Me.109

16/11/43 P/O C.B.Megone Ar.196, Ar.196 (D)
Sgt J.N.Bowen
Sgt A.Rooks
F/S E.T.Lynch

27/1/44 F/Lt A.P.Pringle 2-Ju.52
F/Sgt J.R.Edgar 2-Ju.52
W/O P.G.Spooner Ju.52
F/Sgt A.Rooks Ju.52

30/1/44 F/Sgt H.B.Yates Ar.196 (D)
F/Sgt A.Gow

14/5/44 F/Lt D.G.Simpson Ar.196, Ar.196 (D)
F/Sgt W.G Harrison
F/Sgt T.Cook Ar.196 (D)

1/6/44 U/K Ar.196 (P)
U/K Ar.196 (D)

4/7/44 W/O L.F.Sykes Ju.52 Floatplane
F/Sgt E.F.Pennie

23/7/44 F/Lt.A.G.Deck Ar.196

9/9/44 F/Lt A.G.Deck Ar.196
F/Lt D.G.Simpson

Obviously incomplete but any addition or corrections welcome

Cheers

Bruce Lander

[keith A]

Hi Bruce, and Drew

Thanks for the info chaps.

K ;-)

[AUS_RAAF]

Bruce,

For the claim on 9 Nov 43 – W.A. Escott was probably W.A. Eacott (RAF) and F.M. Fox - Frank Mitchell Cox (Aus.403722). His usual nav was N.S Ferguson (Aus.400984) and both were lost on 13 Nov 43.

Lynch was another Australian (Aus.413398), lost with C.C. Sykes (RAFVR No.101520) as nav on 11 Apr 44. During 1943 the squadron had several RAAF aircrew who had transferred from 454 Sqn RAAF.

Drew