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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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227 Squadron R.A.F. Beaufighter X JL905 F/O. Hutchison

Operation: Anti-shipping

Date: 23rd January 1944 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 227 Squadron

Type: Beaufighter X

Serial: JL905

Code: ?

Base: Berka III, Benghazi, Libya

Location: Mediterranean Sea

Pilot: F/O. Richard Balman Hutchison J/21234 RCAF Age 26. Missing

Navigator: Fl/Sgt. Leslie Sawle 1080661 RAFVR Age 22. Missing

REASON FOR LOSS:

Whilst on an anti-shipping patrol off Southern Greece - Beaufighter JL905 failed to return. No trace of the aircraft or crew members were found - both are remembered on the Alamein War Memorial.

Above: Navigator of JL905 Fl/Sgt. Leslie Sawle (courtesy Janet Chappell)

  Right: Alamein Memorial                      


Burial details:

F/O. Richard Balman Hutchison. Alamein War Memorial Panel 281. Son of William P. and Cherry O. Hutchison. Springside, Ohio, USA.

Fl/Sgt. Leslie Sawle. Alamein War Memorial Panel 280. Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Sawle, of Sheffield, England.


             

Researched for the niece of Fl/Sgt. Sawle, Janet Chappell and relatives of  F/O. Hutchison. With thanks to Les Allison and Harry Hayward - "They Shall Grow Not Old", Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

KTY 03.07.2015 Page updated/Map

Explore related reports: 1944 Alamein Memorial Beaufighter Canada Coastal Command Missing
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Acknowledgements
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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 Captain 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', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, 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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