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Allied Air Forces Losses and Incidents Database.

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Data derived from many sources. Incorporates 125,000 entries from Aircrew Deaths 39-47 Database. Corrections/Additions welcomed via Helpdesk

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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To search on squadron, append 'Sqn'. Examples: '72Sqn' or '416Sqn'
Thanks to Personnel of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain for supplementary data and images (marked with a chequerboard device) related to the Polish Air Force, and many images courtesy of our respected colleagues Wojtek Matusiak and Robert Gretzyngier. Other images from our own archives.
Responding to requests that respects may be paid in this database to a loved one or friend, or someone you want to recognize, an In Memoriam plaque may now be placed next to any entry. See our Donate Page for details. Search for In Memoriam in this database to see examples of plaques which have been placed.

Polish Air Force personnel have a supplementary database containing more information and many more entries. Check the following:
Personel Polskich Sił Powietrznych posiada dodatkową bazę danych zawierającą więcej informacji i wiele innych wpisów. Sprawdź następujące elementy:
Archiwum: PSP 1939 -1947 Database 17,000+ Polish Air Force Entries
ON REQUEST, MORE INFORMATION CAN OFTEN BE RETRIEVED FROM OUR RESEARCH ARCHIVE ON EVERY ENTRY, AND ON NAMES YET TO BE ENTERED.

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You searched for: “metherall AND 450”

#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 MetherallWilliam JeffreyPilot Officer400151AustraliaRAAF450Sqn RAAF
1942-05-16Kittyhawk1AK604Hit by crashing planeKilledRAAF Honour RollFrom Han-Joachim Marseille's Record: Kills 59 – 60 16 May 1942 18.05. 18.15 Two P-40s, east of Ain el Gazala and east of Fort Acroma. Following the first action, Flight Sergeant Teade of No. 3 Squadron RAAF crash-landed his burning Mk I Kittyhawk, AL120, west of El Adem and returned to his unit uninjured. The second combat involved four Mk I Kittyhawks of No. 450 Squadron RAAF. Pilot Officer Parker bailed out uninjured. Pilot Officer F E Parker: injured; Kittyhawk AK697, 450 Squadron, enemy action, pilot baled from aircraft near Acroma, Libya, 16 May 1942 His pilotless fighter crashed into the Kittyhawk of Sergeant A. J. Metherall AK604. Both Kittyhawks were lost in the crash and Metherall was killed in action. Marseille only observed Parker bailing out and therefore claimed only two victories.

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