Anthony Garwyth St. John - KIA 30 Oct 1944 - RNZAF

[Leendert]

On 31 October 1944 a Walrus and a Spitfire of No. 276 ASR Squadron (Bruges-St. Croix, B-65) are scrambled to investigate an object floating 2 miles N. of position C6909, which translates as off Nieuwpoort/Nieuport, Belgium.
A dinghy is sighted with one occupant and a H.S.L. is directed to it. Occupant (New Zealand, Typhoon pilot) found to be dead due to exposure.
So far the ORB.

Is it safe to assume that the New Zealander was Fl Lt A.G. St. John of RAF No. 627 Squadron who with F/O LaVerne J. Dick (RCAF) was lost off Walcheren in Mosquito DZ640 the day before, on 30 October 1944?
F/O Dick is commemorated at Runnymede, while Flt Lt St. John is buried at Ostend.

No Typhoon or other NZ loss known off Belgian or SW Neth. coast on 30 or 31 october 1944.

Thanks for info,

Leendert

[Stig Jarlevik]

The description does not quite fit with what Errol Martyn says in his book For Your tomorrow Vol 2

"Later the pilot's was washed up on the Belgian coast near Ostende where it is buried in the town's
New Command Cemetery"

From what you say it seems the body was located by the HSL and even if not said so, taken care
of by the vessel's crew.

B Rgds
Stig

[Leendert]

Stig,

Not my words, but those of the ORB...Yes, other texts say that St. John's body had washed ashore near Ostend, hence my further search as to what account is right.
Still, no Typhoon loss I know of off the Belgian or SW Neth. coast those days, nor another New-Zealander...

Regards, Leendert

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Leendert

Stig,

Not my words, but those of the ORB...Yes, other texts say that St. John's body had washed ashore near Ostend, hence my further search as to what account is right.
Still, no Typhoon loss I know of off the Belgian or SW Neth. coast those days, nor another New-Zealander...

Regards, Leendert

Yes, I realize that Leendert
Just a short cut of mine.
No I cannot find any other RNZAF individual either that fits in Errol's books
Perhaps the dinghy was found very close to the shore and was considered as
washed up in some accounts...
B Rgds
Stig

[Leendert]

It looks indeed that "washed ashore at Ostend" was interpreted as such, but not sure if sources had also seen the ORB of No. 276 Squadron in this case...

Regards,
Leendert

[RSwank]

The newspaper account that appears on find a grave words things slightly differently:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...arwyth-st_john

"....Flt Lt A. G. St John, whose body was recovered from the sea off Ostend."

The article was from "The Leader-Post" Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, November 8, 1944.

[Leendert]

Rolland,

Newspaper text appears to be more in line with the No. 276 Squadron ORB...
Thanks for pointing me to findagrave, had overlooked that.

Regards,
Leendert