Sub-Lt(A) Hugh Anson-May DSC

[Brian]

Hi guys

Not RAF but FAA!

He was killed aboard HMS Avenger when the carrier was sunk in November 1942.

I'm endeavouring to determine his unit and status. Pilot? Observer?

Hopefully, someone can help.

Cheers
Brian

[RSwank]

This link : http://www.abcc.org.ar/memorial

Shows:

ANSON-MAY, Hugh Douglas DSC Sub-Lieut. RNVR, Fleet Air Arm, Squadron 833. HMS Avenger

Native from Buenos Aires, pilot of a Fairey Swordfish I. KIA 15th November 1942 at age 23, aboard escort aircraft carrier HMS Avenger (ex Rio Hudson, ex BAVG-2 (USA)). Killed by the only torpedo fired at HMS Avenger by U-155, east of Gibraltar, and under command of KrvKpt. Adolf Cornelius Piening (Knights Cross). Left Argentina 18th June 1940. Member of the Buenos Aires Cricket and Rugby Club. http://www.bacrc.com/ . Educated at St George's College – Quilmes - Argentina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Geo...llege,_Quilmes)

[Brian]

Many thanks

That was quick!

However, I don't think he was 883 Squadron, as that was a Sea Hurricane unit, and the information you have provided says Swordfish pilot!

I wonder what his DSC was for?

Cheers
Brian

Just noticed, you wrote 833 Squadron, not 883!!

[Tom Semenza]

Brian,

According to the October 1942 issue of "The Navy List" Sub-Lt. (A) Hugh Douglas Anson-May was a pilot with 883 Sqn. aboard Avenger. 'B' Flight of 833 Sqn. with 3 Swordfish was on Avenger during Operation Torch but disembarked prior to the carrier's sinking.

Best wishes,
Tom

[Col Bruggy]

Brian,

HMS AVENGER.
Escort Carrier. Entered service with the RN in March 1942. Sunk by U-115[sic] west of Gibraltar on 15 November 1942.

London Gazette: 1 December 1942 - Operation EV - North Russian Convoys PQ18 and QF14, in September 1942.

Person & Service if not RN: ANSON-MAY, Hugh Douglas RNVR,
Rank/Rtg: TSubLt (A)
Award: DSC
Investiture: Posted to NOK.

Ref:
Seedie's List of Fleet Air Arm Awards 1939-1969
"Seedie" (Pseudonym)
Ripley Registers,1990.
p.13

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/5226 (see also p.5225)

Col.

[Brian]

Hi guys

Thanks for all the contributions. However, I'm still confused! Easily done, in my case!

Was Anson-May a Swordfish pilot as suggested?

Was he on board Avenger for PQ18? If so, he would have surely been part of the five Swordfish crews detached from 825 Squadron.

Three Swordfish of 833 Squadron presumably replaced the 825 Squadron detachment for 'Torch', so why was he on board when Avenger sunk? Had he transferred from 825 to 833?

If he was on 883 Squadron for PQ18, then he flew Sea Hurricanes.

Has anyone access to the Navy List for Avenger's crew for, say July/August/September 1942? If Anson-May was aboard, he should appear?

Also, is there a list of 825 Squadron crews for Avenger in the Navy List?
The list should include Lt D.W. Winterbottom and Sub-Lt G. Bennett as pilots, at least.

Highly confusing to say the least!

I'm confident that our experts will unravel all!

Cheers
Brian

[Brian]

Hi guys

Further to my previous post, I have since discovered that the Navy Lists are online.

It shows that Anson-May was on 883 Squadron! So therefore a Sea Hurricane pilot and not a Swordfish pilot!

Cheers
Brian

[Tom Semenza]

Brian,

The Navy List can be readily viewed and downloaded from the website of the National Library of Scotland:

http://digital.nls.uk/british-milita...fm?id=93506066

I have downloaded all the volumes from 1939-45 and find them to be a very valuable reference source. That said, Anson-May is listed in both the June and Aug. 42 issues as a member of 883 Sqn., so it would seem that he was, in fact, a Sea Hurricane pilot. By the way, he receives no mention in Sturtivant's Fleet Air Arm Aircraft, 1939-1945.

According to Sturtivant's The Squadrons of the FAA the Sea Hurricanes of 802 and 883 Sqns. claimed downing 5 German bombers and damaging 17 more while escorting PQ18. I have found claims for 5 or 6 destroyed and 2 damaged on 14 Sep 42 depending on the source [Those Other Eagles as well as Sturtivant] as follows:

802 Sqn.
Lt.(A) A.R. Laurie with 2 He 111 dest. (or 1 He 111 and 1 Ju 88) plus 1 bomber damaged
Sub-Lt.(A) P.J. Williams with 1 Ju 88 dest.

883 Sqn.
Sub-Lt.(A) I.P. Garrow with 2 dest. (1 Ju 88 and 1 He 111)
Lt.(A) P.W.V. Massy with 1 He 111 dest. (possibly shared) plus another probably dest. or damaged.

Apparently some of the claims may have actually been shared. However a large number of the damaged claims are unaccounted for. Anson-May could very well have been involved with these.

Regards,
Tom

P.S.: Brian, I sent this posting before seeing your last one.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
the new book " Squadrons and Units of the FAA" byTheo Balance has the following info re Avenger.
It suggests that 802 Sqdn received nine Sea Hurricane IIb's at Hatson in September prior to reembarking for "Torch". However how many were assigned to Avenger is not noted.
With regard to 883 Sqdn it suggests that six Sea Hurricane Ib's were equipped in October 41while at Yeovilton. In November 42 after the Russian Convoy duty it was aboard Avenger when she was sunk.But it lists that at that time the squadron were equipped with Sea Hurricane IIb's.
As for Avenger it has -
802- 7-11-42 - Sea HurricaneIb/Iib.
883 - 7-11-42 - Sea Hurricane In/IIb.
825 - 7-9-42 - Swordfish I/II.
833 DT - 10-11-42 - Swordfish II.

Details are similar to that in the earlier "The Squadrons of the FAA" by Sturtivant and Balance. But the earlier book has" 833 B DT."

Hope this is of some use.
Alex