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NOTE ON DATES: IMPORTANT: For consistency, the Date is given as the date the mission TOOK OFF since the precise time of a loss is not always certain. Take Off date is unambigous and fixed in the official records, but obviously in those cases where the incident occurred before midnight UK time, then the Take Off Date will be the same as the Incident Date. Of course, most Bomber Command missions flew through midnight, therefore a Luftwaffe claim against a plane - or a locally generated crash report - may record the incident as occurring on the day following our Take Off Date. Bear this in mind when cross-referencing to our Luftwaffe Victories by Name/Date Database and other Luftwaffe sources. In some cases other sources may quote the date following our date, using locally generated reports as their source. To add to the potential for confusion, remember to take into account a Luftwaffe recorded date will be in local time, 1 hour ahead of UK time. When we discover a validated Incident Date we change our record if necessary.



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You searched for: “drew AND 112”

#Name* SORT (↑)First NamesTitleRankRAF Equivalent RankService No.Photo (Click to Expand)CommemoratedBornNationalityRoleAwardsAir ForceCommandUnitDateofIncident *See Note SORT (↑)AircraftTypeSerialCodeVictories (Fighters)BaseTimeMission                        Incident                        FateReferring Database                        Notes                        Links/Archive Reports
1 DrewRoy ArthurPilot Officer407415
Alamein

Canberra Australia		ALAMEIN MEMORIAL Column 265. Panel 121, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACTAge 27AustraliaPilotDFM
RAAF112Sqn RAF
1942-06-17Kittyhawk1AK5862Gambut11:20Offensive sweep to bomb enemy motor transport and troop carriersShot down in dogfight by Hans-Joachim Marseille, probably his 100th victory.KilledRAAF Honour RollDrew was posted to 112 Squadron and sent to the Western Desert flying Kittyhawks. There, in his 70 sorties, often over difficult targets, he proved to be a 'courageous and determined pilot' who regularly 'set an inspiring example'. In May 1942 Drew's courage in action led to a Distinguished Flying Medal.

Pilot Officer Drew flying Kittyhawk AK586 was in a formation of 7 aircraft which took off from Gambut Satellite airfield at 1120 hours on 17 June 1942 to bomb enemy motor transport and troop carriers at Map Reference 415403. Apparently AK586 had some difficulty at the take off, as the aircraft was not airborne until several minutes after the others, and consequently flew alone to the target where the aircraft was seen at approximately 1140 hours. This is the last reported sighting of the aircraft and the aircraft and pilot did not return to base.

DFM Citation: DFM Citation: In May 1942, Flight Sergeant Drew led a formation of fighter and bomber aircraft in an attack on a concentration of tanks and motor transport. On arrival over the target area he ordered all aircraft to orbit out of range of fire from the ground defences while he dived through the barrage to 1,000 feet to identify the target. Having done so, he released a bomb which fell in the centre of the enemy vehicles as an aiming point for the other bombers. In a subsequent attack he led the bombers through the barrage, releasing his bombs and using his machine guns most effectively. On other occasions Flight Sergeant Drew has participated in sorties over difficult targets, achieving success. He is a courageous and determined pilot and has set an inspiring example. He has destroyed two enemy aircraft.

From Hans-Joachim Marseille's Record: Kills 96 – 101 17 June 1942 12.02 12.04 12.05 12.08 12.09 12.12 Marseille was credited with six kills in seven minutes over Gambut (becoming the 11th pilot to score 100 kills). His adversaries were Mk I Kittyhawks of No. 112 Squadron RAF and No. 250 Squadron RAF, as well as 12 Mk IIC Hurricanes of No. 73 Squadron RAF. The first two victories were misidentified Mk IIC Hurricanes (BN121 and BN157) of 73 Sqn. The pilots, Pilot Officer Stone and Flight Sergeant Goodwin, bailed out uninjured. The next two victories were Mk IIC Hurricanes (BN277 and BN456) also of 73 Sqn. Both pilots, Squadron Leader Derek Harland Ward and Pilot Officer Woolley, were killed in action. Marseille's century appears to have been Sergeant Roy Drew (RAAF) of 112 Sqn,[70] in Kittyhawk I, AK586. Drew was separated from his flight and did not return. Pilot Officer R A Drew (RAAF): missing believed killed; Kittyhawk AK586, 112 Squadron, aircraft failed to return from an operational flight over Sidi Rezegh, Libya, 17 June 1942. The Spitfire was a Mk IV reconnaissance aircraft, BP916, flown by Pilot Officer Squires.

SON OF ARTHUR AND GERTRUDE CECILIA JANE DREW, OF PETERBOROUGH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA.


112Sqn Group. January, 1942, Caldwell (Forage Cap), Sgt. William Edward Carson, Sgt Andy Taylor on wing, P/O Neville F Duke (Forage Cap), Humphreys (Forage Cap) Henry George Burney (on wing hand on exhaust), Roy Arthur Drew arm folded in front of Sgt A T Donkin wearing wedge cap, behind him unknown , Rudolph Maurice Leu and Flt Lt E Dickinson. The Carson boys were brothers.


WESTERN DESERT. 1942-01. SQUADRON LEADER CLIVE 'KILLER' CALDWELL AND PILOTS OF THE 'SHARK' SQUADRON R.A.F. FIGHTER UNIT IN THE WESTERN DESERT STANDING BESIDE THE NOSE OF THE 112Sqn AIRCRAFT. Sdn/Ldr Clive Caldwell (Aus), William Edward Carson, 404168 RAAF (Aus). Sgt Andy Taylor (Aus), P/O Nelville F Duke, Humphreys, Flt Sgt Roy Arthur Drew, 407415 DFM (Australian) KIA, on wing, Plt Off Henry George Burney, 402343, RAAF (Aus, KIA). Sgt A T Donkin (NZ, KIA), R M Leu (POW) Flt Lt E Dickinson (KIA) and Sgt Kenneth (Kit) Francis Carson, 404233, RAAF The Carson boys were brothers.
2 WardDerek HarlandSquadron Leader40786

Courtesy Ian Banks

Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery. Grave 1.C.10Age 24New ZealandPilotRAFFighter Command87Sqn

73Sqn
1942-06-17HurricaneIIcBN277TP-?8 [7+1]Gambut, Libya1230PatrolSee archive report for further brief details. Returning to base attacked by enemy aircraft and shot down two miles west of Gambut, Libya, 17 June 1942KilledBorn at Whangarei on the 31st July 1917. A student at Auckland Aero Club with his first solo flight on the 14th February 1937, gained his 'A' licence on the 27th April 1937. Selected for RAF short service commission. Enlisted at Wigwam on the 08th June 1937. Transferd to the RAF on the 01st June and received his commission. Awarded his pilots badge on the 10th December 1937. Served with 151 squadron flying the Gauntlet and Hurricane, 87 squadron where he completed 170 operational sorties before joining 73 squadron completing 92 operational sorties. Son of Lt.Col. Dr. Sidney Harland Ward and Margaret Emilie Ward, of Whangerei, New Zealand. 1400 flying hours logged and on his 262nd operational sortie. Credited with 7 enemy aircraft destroyed, 1 shared destroyed1 probable and 1 shared probable with 5 others damaged.

From Hans-Joachim Marseille's Record: Kills 96 – 101 17 June 1942 12.02 12.04 12.05 12.08 12.09 12.12 Marseille was credited with six kills in seven minutes over Gambut (becoming the 11th pilot to score 100 kills). His adversaries were Mk I Kittyhawks of No. 112 Squadron RAF and No. 250 Squadron RAF, as well as 12 Mk IIC Hurricanes of No. 73 Squadron RAF. The first two victories were misidentified Mk IIC Hurricanes (BN121 and BN157) of 73 Sqn. The pilots, Pilot Officer Stone and Flight Sergeant Goodwin, bailed out uninjured. The next two victories were Mk IIC Hurricanes (BN277 and BN456) also of 73 Sqn. Both pilots, Squadron Leader D. H. Ward and Pilot Officer Woolley, were killed in action. Marseille's century appears to have been Sergeant Roy Drew (RAAF) of 112 Sqn,[70] in Kittyhawk I, AK586. Drew was separated from his flight and did not return. The Spitfire was a Mk IV reconnaissance aircraft, BP916, flown by Pilot Officer Squires.

Archive Report

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