AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

• Kracker Archive
• Allied Losses
• Archiwum Polish
• Paradie Canadian
• RCAF
• RAAF
• RNZAF
• USA
• Searchable Lists

Info LogoAdd to or correct this story with a few clicks.
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.
Check our Research databases: Database List

.

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.

No. 11 Squadron Crest
25.01.1942 No. 11 Squadron Blenheim IV V5899 Frederick Britain Borrett

Operation: Army Co-operation

Date: 25 January 1942 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 11 Squadron Motto: Ociores acrierosquaquilis - 'Swifter and keener than eagles'

Badge: Two eagles volant in pale - approved by King George VI in May 1937. The badge commemorates the unit's First World War operation of two-seater fighter-reconnaissance aircraft, eagles being chosen to symbolise speed and strength

Type: Bristol Blenheim IV

Serial: V5899

Code: Unknown

Base: Landing Ground 147, Bu Amud, Cyrenaica, Libya

Location: Near Mechili Landing Ground, Libya

Pilot: F/Sgt. Frederick Britain Borrett Aus/402104 RAAF - Safe but injured (1)

Obs: F/Sgt. Jack Richmond DFM MiD 550946 RAF Age 22 - Killed (2)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Hugh Lister Mackey Aus/402180 RAAF - Safe but injured (3)


We appeal to anyone with further information and/or photographs to please contact us via our HELPDESK





REASON FOR LOSS

Took off at 15.18 hours on an operation to bomb motor transport along the Antalat-Agedabia road. On the return flight engine failure occurred probably as a result of enemy action and a forced crash landing ensued near Mechili Landing Ground, Libya at 16.00 hours.


Sgt. Frederick Britain Barrett suffered laceration and foreign bodies in his right hand and Sgt. Hugh Lister Mackey was seriously injured receiving lacerations to his left and right buttocks and a contused back. Both airmen were admitted to No. 62 British General Hospital, Tobruk, Libya.

The Observer F/Sgt. Jack Richmond was killed.



BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS OF THE CREW



(1) F/Sgt. Frederick Britain Borrett was born on 16 November 1914 at Bunbury, Western Australia the son of Harry Britain Borrett and Emily Eliza Borrett later of 17 Wasley Street, Mount Lawley, Perth, Western Australia. His father died on 14 November 1938 at Subiaco, Perth, Western Australia.

He enlisted at 2 RC Sydney on 27 May 1940 and embarked for the UK on 16 April 1941.

He was killed on 19 August 1942 when his aircraft, Blenheim V BA597 crashed north of Oshogbo, Nigeria. He is buried at Oshogbo Cemetery. For details of the crash see www.aircrewremembered.com/borrett-frederick-britai...

His brother Arnold Harvey Borrett Aus/406769, the rear gunner of the crew of Stirling BF378 of No. 15 Squadron died aged 25 when his aircraft was shot down over Holland on an operation to bomb Wilhelmshaven. He lies in Vredenhof Cemetery on the Dutch island of Schiermonnikoog. For details of the loss see www.aircrewremembered.com/crawford-bernard.html

Frederick Britain Borrett and his brother Arnold Harvey Borrett are both commemorated on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra - Panel 119 and on the War Memorial at Perth, Western Australia.


(2) F/Sgt. Jack Richmond DFM, MiD was born on 6 January 1920 at Bradford the son of Frederick Richmond and Doreen Edna Richmond nee Lang, of West Bowling, Yorkshire.

On 25 July 1941 it was promulgated in the London Gazette that whilst serving with 211 Squadron he had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal "For gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations". The citation reads:

“This senior NCO has taken part in 58 raids which have included Libya, Greece and Palestine since 1938. He was the Commanding Officer’s Observer for quite a while. He is an exceptionally keen man and a brilliant Bomb Aimer and Navigator. He has been in No 211 Squadron for 3 years 10 months and has always shown the greatest determination and courage. He is a very determined type.”

On 24 September 1941 it was published in the London Gazette that he had been Mentioned in Dispatches.

Recorded by CWGC as a member of No. 211 Squadron it seems that F/Sgt. Jack Richmond was attached to No. 11 Squadron at the time of his death though the circumstances are unknown.


(3) Sgt. Hugh Lister Mackey born on 23 August 1914 at Canterbury, Victoria, Australia the son of Sir John Emanuel Mackey and Zella Watson Mackey nee Bates.

He had two brothers and two sisters. Sir John Mackey was a renowned Australian politician who on his death in 1924 was granted a state funeral. Hugh Lister Mackey enlisted on 23 June 1940 and embarked for the UK on 9 April 1941. His mother, Lady Mackey lived at 24 Narong Road, Caulfield, Victoria.

Hugh Mackey survived the war and on 12 October 1946 he married Joan Florence Beckman at Melbourne Grammar School Chapel.

He is believed to have died at Victoria Australia in 1983 aged 69.


MEMORIAL DETAILS

F/Sgt. Jack Richmond DFM MiD - Having no known grave he is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial Column 250


Researched by Aircrew Remembered researcher Roy Wilcock for all the relatives and friends of the members of this crew -

With thanks to the sources quoted below.


RW 28.09.2016

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
Acknowledgements
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 MWO 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', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, 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.
Click any image to enlarge it

Click to add your info via ticket on Helpdesk •Click to let us know via ticket on Helpdesk• Click to explore the entire site
If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2024
Last Modified: 17 March 2021, 16:43

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor