W/C Eric Clive Le Mesurier, DSO, DFC, MID - MIA 23/12/1943

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello,
Any information about this loss? I found no Luftwaffe claim for Spitfire or De Havilland Mosquito so far...Apparently he was one of the first PR pilots from Heston Flight and later PDU.
Which aircraft was he flying on his last flight? Was he shot down ( FLAK )? Did he crash or had an accident? How he died?
What was he last unit?
Any news would be of great help.

Cheers

Adriano

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Adriano,

Le Mesurier was C/O 140 Sqn Sep41-Jun43 but I don't know what unit he was serving with at the time of his loss.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[Dennis Peschier]

Adriano,
According to “The Squadrons of the RAF & Commonwealth 1918-1988” 140sq was flying Blenheim IV and Ventura I in June ’43. The first Mosquito IX was not received until August, and the first Spitfire XI in September of that year.

Hope this helps
Dennis

[Dennis Peschier]

Oeps,
The also flew Spitfire I and IV!
Dennis

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Thanks for all,
But up to now we do not know which aircraft he was flying...I found NO Mosquito claim by Luftwaffe Squadrons. Perhaps FLAK? Oxygen supply failure? An experienced recon pilot like him shouldn´t become lost.
Anyone knows if he joined the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations or if he remained on ETO?
There are several Spitfire claims on that date, but I will re-check to find out something suspicious.
Glad for your help so far..
Adriano

[Chris Goss]

....and according to the CWGC, he is buried at Radipole in the UK and is not MIA in the Med! If you want, I can ask the AHB for details

[Amrit1]

Good old rafcommands.com had the answer (from 2002). I'll quote the info:

Henk Welting
Mosquito T.Mk.III HJ964 of 8 OTU crashed 23-12-1943. An air bottle in rear fuselage blew up and (part of) tail fell of. The aircraft spun in at Granholme Farm near Dyce aerodrome and both crew killed. Looking for the names of the crew.

Pierre Renier
Fortunately I have a copy of some of the ORB for Dyce. The casualties you are looking fore W/C E.C. Le Mesurier, D.S.O., D.F.C. (37883) Chief Instructer No. 8 ( C ) O.T.U., and ACl L.F. Gough (1221770). Apparently the a/c was undergoing an air test at the time.
I would be grateful, if you could tell me how you knew exactly where the a/c crashed, as the ORB only mentions it was two miles north east of the aerodrome.

balnaguie01
The location is on the F1180. The aircraft spun in after an air bottle burst on an air test. The tail came off. W/C Le Mesurier DSO DFC was the unit's Chief Instructor.

http://www.rafcommands.com/cgi-bin/d...ic&archive=yes

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Amrit1,
I do have no words to thank you! It was just what I was looking for. A sad loss indeed...It never occurred me to check the Training losses.
BINGO! Thank you so much for sharing this information and thank you to all those who answered the thread.
Yours friendly
Adriano

[Amrit1]

Hi Adriano,

It's the three members named above who provided the info - I just got luck searching rafcommands

A