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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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39
20.08.1942 39 Squadron Beaufort IC AW295 Plt Off. Robert Lachlan Condon

Operation: Anti Shipping

Date: 20th August 1942 (Thursday)

Unit No: 39 Squadron (motto: Die noctuque - By day and night). Coastal Command

Type: Beaufort IC

Serial: AW295

Code: XZ:?

Base: Luqa, Malta

Location: Punta Stilo, Italy

Pilot: Plt Off. Robert Lachlan Condon 402850 RAAF PoW No: 2409 *

Obs: Plt Off. Albert Henry Comber 402730 RAAF PoW No: 3216 *

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Clement Leo Parker 405516 RNZAF PoW No: 33654 **

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Philip Patrick Scullin 405512 RNZAF PoW No: 33652 **

* Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia, Germany, now Żagań in Poland. (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser, Bavaria)
** Stalag 8b, in 1943 renamed Stalag 344, Lamsdorf (now called Łambinowice) in Silesia, Lamsdorf (now called Łambinowice) in Silesia.

REASON FOR LOSS:

During the first part of 1942 a detachment from the squadron was based on Malta, and in August 1942 that detachment merged with ones from 86 and 217 Squadrons to form a complete squadron.

AW295 was one of twelve Beauforts escorted by ten Beaufighters from 227 Squadron engaged in the attack on the 7,800 ton tanker Pozarica. The ship was escorted by five destroyers, a flak-ship. Air cover included six Italian Air Force Macchis and a Cant floatplane.

They were shot down by anti-aircraft fire off Punta Stilo, all four crew survived to be taken PoW.

Also lost were the crew of Beaufort AW341 of 86 squadron flown by Plt Off. Peter Roper J5101 RCAF, taken PoW with the other 3 crew members.

Beaufighter T4934 from 235 Squadron was also shot down, WO. Donald Brisco 403786 RNZAF and his observer, Sgt. Douglas Paterson were taken PoW after spending two hours in the water.

Above: PoW Camp P78, Dulag, Italy, July 1942
Rear left to right: Flt Lt. Geoffrey Talbot Chinchen (250704 RAAF - later escaped and awarded DFC and MBE, died 17th July 2005); Fg Off. Harold George Herbert Roberts (406082 RAAF, died 2nd March 1991); Plt Off. Keith Alexander Murdoch (406402 RAAF); Fg Off. Robert Lachlan Condon (402850 RAAF ); Fg Off. Donald Linden Furphy (402159 RAAF); Flt Lt. Richard Chandler Hooper (400144 RAAF); Fg Off. Frederic Felix Henriques Eggleston (252761 RAAF - escaped to Switzerland, died 30th May 1995); Fg Off. Reginald Sydney Spear (406630 RAAF).

Front left to right: Plt Off. Frederick Easton Thwaites (400606 RAAF); Flt Lt. Malcom John Jones (402240 RAAF); Plt Off. Albert Henry Comber (402730 RAAF); Plt Off. Jack Donald (402231 RAAF); Flt Lt. Robert Sydney Jones (290726 RAAF, escaped to Switzerland); Possibly Fg Off. Charles Keith Teulon Thompson (404066 RAAF).


Note: Bob Johnson of the Perth Modern School History Centre is of the opinion that the airman initially identified as possibly being Fg Off. Charles Keith Teulon Thompson, sitting 1st from the right, bears a strong resemblance to Fg Off. Stanley Edward 'Stan' Thomson 406604 RAAF (PoW No 2466: Observer from 70 Sqn Wellington IC AD634 N, lost on the 19th August 1942, Tobruk (5 PoW))


Burial details:

None - all survived the war.

Crew Bios:

Plt Off. Robert Lachlan Condon of Victoria Street, Wesy Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. Born on the 18th September 1918 at Dubbo, New South Wales. Enlisted on the 11th November 1940 in Sydney. Discharged as a Flt Lt. on the 20th October 1945. Died on the 4th August 2008, age 89.

Plt Off. Albert Henry Comber of Coogee Bay Road, Coogee, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Born on the 10th September 1916 at Fulham, England. Enlisted on the 14th October 1916 in Sydney. Discharged as a Flt Lt. on the 18th July 1946. Died 13th November 2014, age 98.

Sgt. Clement Leo Parker. Trained at No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitob, Canada and No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mountain View, Ontario. Wireless Operator badge awarded and promoted to Sergeant on the 4th August 1941. Passed away on the 7th June 2003 at New Plymouth, New Zealand.

Sgt. Philip Patrick Scullin. Trained at No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitob, Canada and No. 6 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mountain View, Ontario. Wireless Operators badge awarded and promoted to Sergeant on the 4th August 1941. Passed away on the 13th September 1984 at Hamilton, New Zealand.

Above: Stalag Lamsdorf showing very over crowded conditions.

Beaufort AW341 Crew:

Pilot: Plt Off. Peter Kelk Roper J5101 RCAF PoW No: 2987 *

Observer: Sgt. Gordon Codd 119775 RAFVR PoW No: 3062 *

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Benjamin Neale Checketts 956844 RAFVR PoW No: 77190 **

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Les Miles 1354318 RAFVR PoW No: 77207 ***

* Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia, Germany, now Żagań in Poland. (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser, Bavaria).
** Stalag 8c Near Sagan-Silesia, Germany, now Żagań in Poland adjacent to Stalag Luft 3.
*** Stalag 8b, in 1943 renamed Stalag 344, Lamsdorf (now called Łambinowice) in Silesia, Lamsdorf (now called Łambinowice) in Silesia.

Above Rear: Sgts. James Flers Lumsden 405497 RNZAF KiA 11th September 1942; Richard John Grenfell 40426 RNZAF KiA on the 29th June 1942; Gordon Albert Rigg 402064 RNZAF; Philip Patrick Scullin 405512 RNZAF; Donald Peter Barber 405465 RNZAF.

Front: Sgts, Ronald Charles Axten 404589 RNZAF; Ian Gordon Stewart KiA 29th July 1942; Clifton Robert Brailey 404587 RNZAF KiA 21st June 1942; Roy Swift 405528 RNZAF KiA on the 8th November 1943; Walter Lemnos Winchester 405535 RNZAF died 3rd March 2009; Photograph taken on the 3rd August 1941.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand (Oct 2021). Thanks to Bob Johnson of the Perth Modern School History Centre for the correction to the identity of Fg Off. Thompson to Fg Off. Thomson (Aug 2023).

Other sources as quoted below:

RS 17.08.2023 - Update to identity of Fg Off. Thomson

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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 Captain 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', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, 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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