Operation: Attack on shipping

Date: 01st December 1943 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 487 Squadron (motto: Ki te mutunga - 'Through to the end'). 140 Airfield HQ. 2 Group. 2nd Tactical Air Force

Type: Mosquito FB.VI

Serial: HX962

Code: EG-X

Base: RAF Sculthorpe, Norfolk

Location: North Atlantic

Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Alan Sudbury Cussens MiD. 67614 RAFVR Age 24. Missing - believed killed

Nav: F/O. Hugh Munro Mackay NZ/415345 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from Predannak in Cornwall at 10:30 hrs to carry out an attack on a armed merchant vessel off the coast of Ile de Croix, Brittany.

They were escorted by 12 Typhoons with 2 Mosquitoes failing to take off having become unserviceable.

HX962 was hit by the intense flak after dropping its bombs within 20 ft of the 'Pietro Orseolo'. Dived into the sea and immediately sank. The body of the navigator was recovered later near Ploemeure, that of the pilot not knowingly recovered.

Although the Italian ship Pietro Orseolo survived this attack it was hit by torpedoes from 254 squadron on the 18th December 1943. The German authorities decided to tow the ship towards the Glénan archipelago but she eventually sank during the journey, in the afternoon.

Burial details:

Sq/Ldr. Alan Sudbury Cussens MiD. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 118. Son of William and Mary Alice Cussens, of Sheffield, England.

F/O. Hugh Munro Mackay. Guidel Communal Cemetery. Row 6. Grave 8. Born on the 19th December 1920 at V. Worked as an accountant for Carr, Stretton and Company prior to service. Enlisted at Levin on the 28th September 1941 as a pilot under training but that terminated and remastered as an observer on the 28th December 1941.12th February 1942 embarked for training in Canada. Awarded his observers badge and a commission on the 21st September 1942.Embarked for England on the 09th March 1943. Joined 487 squadron on the 25th May 1943 flying the Ventura and Mosquito. Son of John Mackay and of Mary Mackay (née Falla), of Morrinsville, Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 496 flying hours logged and on his 03rd operational sortie.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, other sources as quoted below:

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 - 2026 Last Modified: 20 April 2021, 18:01