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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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501 Squadron Crest
11.08.1942 No. 501 Squadron Spitfire Vb EP128 SD-J P/O. Brannigan

Operation: Shipping Reconnaissance

Date: 11th August 1942 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 501 Squadron (10 Group)

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: EP128

Code: SD-J

Base: RAF Ibsley, Hampshire

Location: English Channel

Pilot: P/O. Stewart Gordon Brannigan NZ/404885 RNZAF Age 23. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

With the great research carried out by Errol Martyn on the Royal New Zealand Airforce losses we have been able to compile this page. If you have further information and or photographs we would welcome contact from you.

The Squadron took off at 07:25 hrs on a Shipping Reconnaissance over Cherbourg in France.

During the return they were bounced at 15,000 ft by 4 Fw190's over the English Channel. P/O. Brannigan called on the radio that he had been hit and was going to bale out of his Spitfire. Most of the others never saw him bale out as they were taking evasive action. However his No 2 witnessed that glycol was pouring out of EP128 during a gentle glide and then at about 5,000 ft the aircraft inverted and then spun into the sea. A search was made later in the day but sadly no trace of the pilot or aircraft was found.

Burial details:

P/O. Stewart Gordon Brannigan. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 115. Born on the 22nd August at Carterton, New Zealand, the son of Ernest Cattle Brannigan and Kathleen Stewart Brannigan, of Kaponga, Taranaki, New Zealand. A total of 352 flying hours logged.

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:

KTY - 12.02.2018

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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.
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