Archive Report: Allied Forces

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411 Squadron Spitfire Vb EP489 Sq/Ldr. Donald George Elmore Ball

Operation: ASR (Air Sea Rescue)

Date: 14th April 1943 ( (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 411 Squadron 11 Group (motto: 'nimicus Inimico - 'Hostile to an enemy')

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: EP489

Code: DB-?

Base: RAF Redhill, Surrey

Location:

Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Donald George Elmore Ball J/3753 RCAF Age 22. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 06th July 1942 whilst flying as an instructor at 57 Operational Unit flying Master III W8589 His aircraft suffered engine failure 30 seconds after take off. Then flying at 450 ft. he took over control from his pupil pilot Sgt. Friffiths and made a forced landing in a large field at The Meadows, Lower Kinnerton, Cheshire. Some livestock that had been laying in the grass rose and bolted across his landing path. Three cows were struck and killed the aircraft sun almost 180 degrees but both crew suffered no physical injuries.

During a Wing Rhubarb operation to the Airel area 411 squadron led by Sq/Ldr. Ball they were attacked by Me109's.

Fl/Lt. Johnstone flying Spitfire Vb P8715 as Blue section leader came under fire from a gun post just after crossing the French coast. The aircraft was seen to be belching black smoke and then flew very low over the sea. He called Red 1 (Sq/Ldr. Ball) when flying about 12 miles off the coast and informed hi that his oil pressure was right down and was told to open up wide which he did.

About two minutes late glycol streamed out of his engine. Fl/Lt. Johnstone called again and informed Sq/Ldr. Ball he was bailing out. He rolled his Spitfire onto its back and he dropped out. The aircraft burst into flames and crashed into the sea. Fl/Lt. Johnstone was seen to land safely and climbed into his dingy. The other pilots called in the position off Barfleur Point which were quickly relayed to the various echelons of No. 11 Group.

The Air Sea Rescue alert sounded at Kenley from where the Supermarine Walrus I serial W2773 of No. 277 Squadron took off at 15:23 hrs. with P/O. J.L. Barber, D.F.M., and P/O. L.R. Healey, pilot and gunner respectively. The small biplane seaplane covered the indicated area without seeing anything when Bf109s of the 3./J.G. 27 attacked. TheWalrus was hit and fell into the sea. Barber and Healey escaped injured and ere rescued.

Fl/Lt. Banford was flying Spitfire Vb EN907 as Red 2. Red 1 was attacking a locomotive on a track running north out of St. Lor and came under very intense light flak a box car on the train. Other pilots reported that he had been hit by this flak at around 15:10 hrs. but no one saw the crash.

Initially buried on the 19th April 1943 in the Prisoners Cemetery at Hadamar-Limburg. No. 1 Missing Research and Inquiry Unit identified the grave on the 18th October 1945 and reported that the Germans had place a cross inscribed with his name and that the grave was very well kept.

A search to find Fl/Lt. Johnstone was instigated. At 16:35 hrs, a second Walrus took off and headed south accompanied by a fighter escort. Five minutes earlier, a flight of six Spitfire Vbs from No. 411 Squadron, took off from Redhill. Arriving in the Bay of Seine, the 411 pilots spotted a dinghy about 20 miles north of Port-en-Bessin. The Spitfires turned at water level and kept the boat in sight. Taking advantage of an altitude of 1000 feet, around ten Fw190s suddenly went on the attack. An aerial combat followed which saw the Canadian commander, Sq/Ldr. Ball crash into the sea

A third Walrus escorted by two Spitfires from No. 485 Squadron carried out a final search which yielded nothing. The bodies of Fl/Lt. Johnstone and Sq/Ldr. Ball were never recovered.

Above L-R: Sq/Ldr. Donald Ball. Fl/Lt. William Johnstone and Fl/Lt. James Banford

Burial and other details:

Sq/Ldr. Donald George Elmore Ball. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 172. Born on the 22nd April 1920. Worked as a clerk for the Hudson Bay Store. Enlisted on the 29th June 1940. Trained at Toronto, Fort William and Ottawa, Ontario. Awarded his wings on the 25th January 1941.

Son of Lieutenant Colonel George William Ball RCMP MiD. (Retired from the RCMP on the 30th June 1946 - died on the 19th August 1965, age 70) and Kathleen Ball, of Ste1, Lonsdale Apartments, 9925 104 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Epitaph: 'For Evermore: Stories Of The Fallen'.

Others:

Fl/Lt. William Thomas Johnstone. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 172, Born on the 25th November 1912 in Calgary. Worked as an assistant at a plumber merchant. Enlisted on the 25th October 1940 in Calgary.

Son of Archibald Johnstone (died 18th November 1963, age 82) and Annie Christina Johnstone (née Richardson - died 09th January 1968, age 77) of of 218-25th Avenue, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Fl/Lt. James Greenwood Banford. Bayeux War Cemetery. Grave XXIX K.4. Born on the 24th January 1918 in Edmonton. Educated at westmount High School. Worked as an accountant prior to service. Enlisted on the 21st June 1941 at Edmonton. Trained at Trenton, Ontario, and Maclean, Alberta. A qualified flying instructor.

Son of William Henry Banford (died 27th March 1929, age 42) Margaret Frances Banford (née Greenwood - died 24th February 1965, age 88), brother of Margaret Emily of 9844-113 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of these pilots with thanks to the Pride RCAF Archives, Government of Canada.

Other pages that may interest you:

Pages regarding 1943 losses

Walrus ASR Story

Other sources as quoted below:

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