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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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54 Squadron Spitfire Va W3216 Sgt. Laing

Operation: Fighter Sweep.

Date: 17th July 1941 (Thursday)

Unit: 54 Squadron (11 Group)

Type: Spitfire Va

Serial: W3216

Coded: KL-?

Base: RAF Hornchurch, Essex

Location: Hawkinge, Kent.

Pilot: Sgt. Francis Mackay Laing NZ/401392 RNZAF Age 29. Killed.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 16:05 hrs with six others from the squadron. Crashed near Hawkinge on return from fighter sweep. Sgt. Laing sadly crashed on return near Hawkinge at 17:05 hrs.

Spitfire W3216 was the Maidenhead and District (Spitfire Fund) presentation aircraft.

Spitfire W3216 was the Maidenhead and District (Spitfire Fund) presentation aircraft.


Above: Hornchurch Cemetery and grave

Burial Details:

Sgt. Francis Mackay Laing. Hornchurch Cemetery, Sec. A. Grave 1358. Son of James Storer Laing and of Helen May Laing (née Anderson), of Karori, Wellington, New Zealand. Completed 59 operational sorties.

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 War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below. Also to scottsheat Find A Grave volunteer for grave photo.

KTY - Updated 18.11.2017

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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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