126 Squadron Malta October 1942

[keith A]

On reading Spitfire Attack by WTE Rolls he mentions that after SLdr BJ Wicks was KIA on 12 October 1942 he was replaced by another SLdr, an inexperienced fighter pilot. The unnamed SLdr was himself MIA 25 October 1942 and in turn replaced by another unnamed SLdr, clearly identified as Sldr JR Unwin-Mann.

None of my sources mention any Spitfire pilot loss on 25 October 1942 apart from FSgt N Park and I can see no mention of a replacement for Wicks before Unwin-Mann arrived on 31 October 1942. Can anyone throw light on who this individual may have been?

One thought was that the SLdr was a bomber pilot transferred in as an emergency solution? Or that the unnamed Sldr was not KIA but posted MIA or later reported POW.

regards

Keith

[Chris Goss]

All sources would agree with yours so perhaps the author is mistaken? BTW it was Urwin-Mann not Unwin-Mann

[keith A]

It does seem odd, but I don't see any other explanation. He is however quite specific that there was a replacement, and recalls Jackie Urwin-Mann's career prior to joining 126 accurately. WCdr Peter Prosser Hanks often leads the squadron during the period from the death of Wicks until Urwin Mann takes over, and had done this during Wicks'period of command too. Flt RIA Smith does not mention any replacement and does mention "Prosser" as leading the squadron in this period and confirming his promotion to Flight Lieutenant on 18 October 1942 after the death of FLt Ripley "Rip" Jones. "Rip" Jones was lost in action on 17 October and was leading the squadron as senior flight commander on occasion. (Rolls mistakenly calls him "Dave" in his book). I wonder if the missing "Squadron Leader" was Jones and that Rolls comments about this unnamed squadron leader and his tactics are a veiled criticism of Jones?