CaM-ship pilots Arctic convoys 1942

[Brian]

Hi guys

I can't seem to find much information regarding the pilots involved in these operations, but am aware of the following:

Empire Lawrence PQ-16: Plt Off A.J. Hay - I believe the spare pilot was Plt Off Macpherson RCAF?

Empire Morn QP-12: Flg Off J.B. Kendal - I believe spare pilot was Plt Off Faulks?

Empire Tide PQ-17: Plt Off R. Turley-George; spare pilot Plt Off C. Fenwick

Empire Morn PQ-18: Flg Off A.H. Burr; I believe the spare pilot was Plt Off
Lane.

Can anyone fully identify the spare pilots, assuming I have listed them correctly?

Regarding Dickie Turley-George, I seem to remember reading about his experiences, but can't find the reference. Can anyone help, please?

I'm confident that one or more of our experts out there will know!!

Thanks in anticipation.

Brian

[Leendert]

Brian,

Something on A.J. Hay here. He was awarded a DFC and was mentioned in the London Gazette of 23 Jun 1942: http://peek-01.livejournal.com/102504.html

Regards,

Leendert

[Leendert]

Brian,

MacPherson to be identified as Bruce Edward MacPherson (Toronto, 1920-2008).
According his obituary, he was on PQ16 and Empire Lawrence. See http://necrologie.genealogiequebec.c...N-Bruce-Edward

Regards,

Leendert

[RSwank]

Faulks was possibly Deryck Faulks as is mentioned here:

https://books.google.com/books?id=Ix..._cloud_r&cad=5

[RSwank]

Fenwick was Charles Raymond Fenwick:

http://bbm.org.uk/airmen/FenwickCR.htm


A possibility for "Lane" ?

http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/LaneR.htm

[Brian]

Hi Leendert and RSwank

Many thanks for your contributions.

PS: I've just realised that I have a copy of Ralph Barker's 'Hurricats' which answers many questions!!

Cheers
Brian

[Alex Smart]

Hello Brian,
Some time ago I answered a request for info on the Can ship aircraft.
In the early days the FAA had Fighter Catapult Ships, five if I recall. Squadrons involved were 702;763;764;804;807.
Then there were Armed Merchant Cruisers that were fitted with Catapults. Squadrons involved with these were 702;703;768;777;778; 817; 825.
The Merchant Ship Fighter Unit.
Ships were -
Empire Burton; Clive; Darwin; Day; Dell; Eve; Faith; Flame; Foam ; Franklin; Gale; Heath; Hudson; Lawrence; Moon; Morn; Ocean; Rainbow; Ray; Rowan; Shackleton; Spray; Spring; Stanley; Sun; Tide; Wave, all Government owned.
Then there were -
Daghestan ; Daltonhall; Eastern City; Helen Crest; Kafiristan's; Michael E; Novelist; Primrose.

AF names that come to mind are -
P/O. J.A.Stewart, P/O. Watson, P/O. Greenwood, F/O. G.W. Varley, S/Lt. Norman FAA, F/O. Fisher, F/O. N. Taylor, P/O. A.J. Hay(SAAF), P/O. Campbell, Sqn/Ldr. Moulton-Barrett, P/O. Saunders, P/O. Caulks, P/O. J. B. Kendall, F/O. A.H. Burr, P/O. Davidson, P/O. P.J.R.Flynn.
S/Lt. M.A.Birrell, FAA, F/O. Turner, P/O. Fenwick,.
Hope this is of some use.
Alex

[Mark E Horan]

Originally Posted by Brian

Hi guys

I can't seem to find much information regarding the pilots involved in these operations, but am aware of the following:

Empire Lawrence PQ-16: Plt Off A.J. Hay - I believe the spare pilot was Plt Off Macpherson RCAF?

*****
25.05.42: PQ 16; SS Empire Lawrence Hurricane [+F/O Alastair James “Al” Hay, RAFVR 67093 (South African)]; KG26 He-111 shot down and He-111 damaged; pilot baled out wounded and rescued by HMS Volunteer.
*****

Empire Morn QP-12: Flg Off J.B. Kendal - I believe spare pilot was Plt Off Faulks?

*****

25.05.42: QP 12; SS Empire Morn Hurricane [*F/O John Bedford Kendal[l], RAFVR 745886(NCO), 83268 (O)]; Bv-138 driven off, I/KG30 Ju-88 shot down, Kendal[l]baled out but his chute did not open properly and though rescued by HMS Badsworth, he died soon afterwards. I have seen his name with two ll's but that is not correct

*****


Empire Tide PQ-17: Plt Off R. Turley-George; spare pilot Plt Off C. Fenwick

Empire Morn PQ-18: Flg Off A.H. Burr; I believe the spare pilot was Plt Off
Lane.

*****
18.09.42: PQ 18; SS Empire Morn Hurricane [FO Arthur Henry “Jackie” Burr, (DFC), RAF 66513 (KiFA 25.03.45)]; 1150; KG26 He-111 shot down and He-115 forced down on the sea; pilot landed at Archangel safely (Keg Ostrov aerodrome).
*****

other kill claims for CAM ships:

01.11.41: HX 156; SS Empire Foam Hurricane Z4865 [P/O George Wallace Varley, (MiD, DFC {G 29.06.45}), RAFVR 754156(NCO), 85670 (O); died 11.02.1982] Fw-200 driven off and lost in cloud; Varley baled out, rescued by HMS Broke. On 2 March 1945, as a member of 222 Squadron flying Tempest (EJ882, ZD-E), he shot down an Arado 234B jet bomber (F1+QT [W.Nr. 140178] of 9/KG 76, flown by Leutnant Eberhard Rögel (k) and claimed a Bf-109 as well.

01.11.42: HG 91; SS Empire Heath Hurricane [F/O Norman Taylor, DFM, DFC, RAF 742827 (NCO) 101500 (O); an ACE with 7 kills (KiFA 28.04.48)]; I/KG40 Fw-200 [F8+DS, w/n 0070, Oblt. Arno Grad & crew] shot down 43 nm from convoy; pilot baled out and was rescued.

28.07.43: SL 133; SS Empire Darwin Hurricane [F/O James Alexander “Jimmy” Stewart, (DFC) RAFVR 128449 (Canadian, later RCAF]; 1938; Fw-200 damaged; pilot baled out and rescued by HMS Leith

28.07.43: SL 133; SS Empire Tide Hurricane [F/O Patrick John Richard “Paddy” Flynn, (DFC), RAFVR 119785 (K 14.11.43, car accident)]; 2036; Fw-200 claimed shot down, pilot baled out and rescued by HMS Enchantress. III/KG40 Fw-200 [F8+FK, w/n 0177, Ofw. Woschek] was lost but also claimed by B24 of 480 ASG flown by 1/Lt Hyde


Hope this helps sir!

MArk
*****

Can anyone fully identify the spare pilots, assuming I have listed them correctly?

Regarding Dickie Turley-George, I seem to remember reading about his experiences, but can't find the reference. Can anyone help, please?

I'm confident that one or more of our experts out there will know!!

Thanks in anticipation.

Brian

Brian;

[Brian]

Hi Mark

I've been trying to contact you!

Please e-mail me: briancullauthor@fsmail.net

Hope to hear from you soon!

Brian

[Mark E Horan]

Brian;

The Fighter Catapult Ships were RN with the personnel being supplied by 804 Squadron, FAA. Launches were:

1. 11.01.41: SL-60 & HG 49, 53.25N, 16.22W; Fulmar [PO(A) Frederick James Shaw, RN Fx.79970] from HMS Pegasus; Fw-200 escaped; Shaw landed at Sydenham, Belfast, safely.
2. 11.05.41: OB 319; Fulmar N4072 [T/S-Lt.(A) Frederick Michael Cavendish Harvey, RNVR & LA D. Sykes] from HMS Ariguani, enemy a/c never sighted; Harvey landed in Kaldardanes, Iceland safely.
3. 07.06.41: HG 63, 55.35N, 13.22W; Fulmar N4094 [T/Lt.(A) Bernard Franklin Cox, RNVR] from HMS Pegasus, Fw-200 driven off; pilot landed at Sydenham, Belfast safely in bad weather.
4. 10.06.41: HX 129, 55.18N, 14.00W; Fulmar N4065 [PO(A) Frederick James Shaw, RN Fx.79970] from HMS Springbank at 0930; claimed Fw-200 possibly damaged from long range; pilot landed at Aldergrove, Belfast safely.
5. 07.07.41: SL 78 & OG 67; Fulmar N4038 [S-Lt.(A) Thomas Robert Verner “Cocky” Parke, RN & LA Edwin Francis Miller, RN Fx.78923] HMS Pegasus at 0758; Fw-200 evaded; Parke headed to Ireland poor visibility but flew into high ground S of Cambeltown, both men were killed.
6. 18.07.41: OB 346, 54.57N, 16.53W; Sea Hurricane W9277 [Lt.(A) Robert William Hanmer “Bob” Everett, RNVR] from HMS Maplin; at 0940; closed an Fw-200 [F8+AB (SG+KS); w/n 0043; Gr.Kdr. Hpt. Fritz Fliegel and crew KiA] but it was shot down by AA from SS Norman Prince; Everett landed at St. Angelo.
7. 03.08.41: SL 81, 50.33N, 19.40W; Sea Hurricane W9277 [Lt.(A) Robert William Hanmer “Bob” Everett, RNVR (DSO), KiFA 26.01.42] from HMS Maplin shot up an Fw-200C [F8+CL, w/n 0066, damaged and crash-landed in France, two dead, one injured] while a second Fw-200 escaped. Everett ditched and was rescued by HMS Wanderer. First, and only, Fighter Catapult Ship air-to-air kill.
8. 27.08.41: OS 4 (OG84?), 53.36N, 16.40W; Fulmar N4072 (A/S-Lt.(A) Maurice Andrew Birrell, RN & LA D. Sykes] from HMS Ariguani; Fw-200 escapes; plane flew to Eire and landed on a beach near Ardara in bad weather, then continued to Eglinton, Northern Ireland.
9. 14.09.41: HG 72, 100 nm SW of Ireland; Sea Hurricane W9215 [T/P/S-Lt.(A) Cecil Walker, RNVR) from HMS Maplin damaged an Fw-200; Walker baled out and was rescued by HMS Rochester.
10. 18.09.41: HG 73, 35.57N, 08.30W; Fulmar N4065 [T/Lt.(A) Bernard Franklin Cox, RNVR], 1415, from HMS Springbank, Fw-200 [F8+IL] escaped after jettisoning its bombs due to gun jams in the fighter due to faulty loading of ammunition; pilot landed at Gibraltar.
11. 25.09.41: HG 73 Fulmar [PO(A) Frederick James Shaw, RN Fx.79970 & LA Tilley] from HMS Springbank, Fw-200 not intercepted; pilot flew to Gibraltar.
12. 04.10.41: OG 75, 52.18N, 20.18W; Fulmar [Lt. Ronald Arthur Bird, RN] from HMS Ariguani damaged a Fw-200; pilot baled out and rescued.


Again, I hope this is of interest, sir!


Mark