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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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247 Squadron Crest
03.04.1943 No. 247 Squadron Typhoon Ib DN534 ZY-E Fl/Sgt. D. Archibald

Operation: Anti-Rhubarb patrol (1)

Date: 03rd April 1943 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 247 Squadron (motto: Rise from the East)

Type: Typhoon Ib

Serial: DN534

Code: ZY-E

Base: RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire

Location: English Channel, South of Portland

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. David Archibald NZ/412643 RNZAF Age 21. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

On detachment form RAF Middle Wallop - took off at 12:45 hrs with one other from RAF Warmwell in Dorset. After 25 minutes during the patrol south of Portland for some reason, dived into the English Channel.

The patrol leader searched for him as well as air sea rescue - but despite their efforts no trace could be found of pilot or aircraft.

(1) Rhubarb was a term used for small scale fighter or fighter-bomber operations directed against low-flying aircraft or on ground target - anti-Rhubarb same but against Luftwaffe fighters.

Above: Runnymede Memorial with panel insert to the pilot.

Burial details:

Fl/Sgt. David Archibald. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 198. Son of William and Fanny Coupar Archibald, of Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 399 flying hours logged.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

KTY - 30.08.2017

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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