Beaufort Loss 25 Oct 42

[Martin Gleeson]

Chris,

no real help, but the next release of AIR 81 personnel casualty files could encompass this date. They are up to mid-September 1942 by now and we might have another release before year's end as we have only had one so far in 2022.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Andy & Nick,
Thanks for the clarification of the UK /Malta route.

From Chris's Post it is clear that the aircraft left from Malta so was lost between there and Cairo West.
I have also seen on the RAF Commands Forum that there is clarification that the third man, Bendwig was in the crew.

[Chris Goss]

More to add to the mix:

J.10157 Temporary Flying Officer (promoted w.e.f. 01/10/42) Richard Alanson Bendwig {American} RCAF, was the pilot of Beaufort I, DW834, Luqa, Missing -Death Presumed, 25/10/42. The aircraft left Luqa for the Middle East at approximately 05.05 hours on 25/10/42. The other missing personnel aboard were Pilot Officers Liebeck & Wickstrom and Sergeant Bushnell

[Alex Smart]

Thank you Chris , now we have the full crew.

[Martin Gleeson]

Chris,

Would you believe it but TNA released that next tranche of AIR 81 Personnel Casualty files yesterday ! The file number for Bendwig and his crew is AIR 81/19149.

Regards,

Martin.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Martin but cannot make it to NA for the foreseeable future

[Lorenzo]

Good evening

According to the book 2° Stormo (G.Strada – Stem Mucchi Modena 1975) in the morning of the 25 October 1942 sergeant Vanello took off at 09.10 with a MC200 to escort a convoy and, 80 km north of Sidi Abeida, he shot down a Blenheim in the sea.
Considering that the Malta-Cairo route would seem compatible with the encounter with a fighter in a mission in the Tobruk area, is it possible that there is a connection between the two episodes?

The same information is reported in the book Mediterranean Air War vol. 2, but Vanello's possible victim is identified as a Beaufighter and the aircraft used is referred to as an MC202

Lorenzo

[Chris Goss]

Lorenzo: Most interesting. I now have photos of the combat from the German side which shows hits on the plane and the crash

[Lorenzo]

Thank you Chris for the information

Lorenzo