Archive Report: Allied Forces

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17.01.1943 No. 111 Squadron Spitfire ER884 F/O. Falls

Operation: Offensive Sweep

Date: 17th January 1943 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 111 Squadron

Type: Spitfire

Serial: ER884

Base: RAF Souk-el-Arba Tunisia

Location: Mediterranean Sea

Pilot: F/O. 'Monty' Tom Montague Falls J/10147 RCAF Age 20. Missing

REASON FOR LOSS:

Not many details regarding this loss and indeed the pilot. We welcome any further information.

We do know that he did his basic training at the Commonwealth Air Training Plan at Uplands, Canada between October 25th 1941, graduating on January 16th 1942. Then moved to United Kingdom where he then did conversion training on Spitfires at 58 OTU in Grangemouth, Scotland.

Carrying out many offensive sweeps whilst based in Souk-el-Arba in Tunisia he was shot down over the Mediterranean Sea.

The same month the squadron lost 20 year old Sgt. George Longbottom from Brigg in Lincolnshire and 21 year old F/O. Dennis Maurice Moss from Southport, Lancashire. (Both buried at Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery in Tunisia, shown on right)

Course 22 A 58 OTU Grangemouth Soctland:

Front row: P/O Smith K.J., P/O. Draper G.C., Fl/Lt. McCarthy-Jones C.C.(P.o.W. 26th July 1943 - 504 Squadron), P/O. Draper J.W.P., P/O. Hawkins J.B., P/O. Dunn P.H.

Centre Row: P/O. King R.L.(Believed killed 2nd December 1942 - 122 Squadron), P/O. Stevenson A.G., P/O. Winchester A.G., P/O. Ernst J.D.(Killed 24th August 1942 - 276 Squadron), P/O. Glenwright G.E.(Believed killed 26th December 1942 - 152 Squadron), P/O. Spretzel J.R.

Rear Row: F/O. Strozak R.P.(Killed 20th November 1942 - 65 Squadron) , P/O. Ellington P.M.A. P/O. Holmes H.C.H. P/O. Butler W.M.(Killed 18th June 1942 - 58 O.T.U.), P/O. Falls T.M., P/O. Peppler G.E., P/O. Chandler R.J., P/O. Podobinski S. (Killed 14th December 1943 - 303 Squadron)

Burial Details:

None, he is still missing as no body or aircraft pieces were recovered. F/O. 'Monty' Tom Montague Falls is commemorated on the Malta Memorial. Born in Chicago, Illinois, USA, in 1917. Son of Richard Henry Margrave and Anna Mabel (née Brown) Falls and brother to Richard Falls, also born in Chicago, from Orford Lake, Quebec, Canada. His mother, Anna passed away in 1966 and his father, Richard in December 1967.

Researched for relatives of the pilot. With thanks to the following for further information supplied by the 1333 (Grangemouth Spitfire) Squadron and the Grangemouth Spitfire Memorial Trust who provided me with so much information and assistance during my visit. Thanks to Richard Allen Falls, the nephew of 'Monty' for the NoK details.

His medals recently were sold at auction we understand for nearly $2,000 - sad in some respects, but at least someone, somewhere values them and that they are hopefully in secure hands.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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