Operation: Convoy Attack, Mediterranean

Date: 4th October 1942 (Sunday)

Unit No: 227 Sqn, Mediterranean Command

Type: Beaufighter IC

Serial: X8077

Code: F

Base: RAF Luqa, Malta

Location: About 65 miles east of Malta

Pilot: Flt Sgt. George Pass Fargher R67720 Age 21. MiA (1)

Obs: Plt Off. Kenneth Caleb Briffett 130135 RAFVR Age 30. Safe (2)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 4th October 1942 during the afternoon nine (9) Beaufighters from took off from RAF Luqa in Malta on an operation to attack a convoy reported to be off Cape Santa Maria di Leuca.

Beaufighter IC X8077 “F” developed engine trouble and was forced to ditch in the sea approximately sixty-five (65) miles east of Malta.

Note: Some documents has Flt Sgt. Fargher’s aircraft as serial number X8039 however, the accident report in WO2. Fargher’s service record denotes the serial number as X8077. It is suspected that X8039 was actually Sqn Ldr. Wigmore’s aircraft as is documented as such in this report.

Plt Off. Biffett’s ‘Report of forced landing in the sea of Beaufighter X8077’ described the ditching from his perspective:

“I have the honour to report that on Sunday, October 4th 1942, I was flying with F/Sgt. Fargher (Pilot) in Beaufighter X8077 on the port side position of a formation of four aircraft being led by Wing Commander Shore.

At about 14:45 hours when in a position some 65 mls. East of Malta Wg Cdr. Shore decided to orbit this spot and Flt Sgt. Fargher turned in a normal manner, following the formation leader. Almost immediately there was a perceptible decrease in speed which I thought to be a normal throttle back by the pilot. This was followed by the pilot shouting to me to jettison the 2 x 500 lbs bombs which were being carried.

It was then that I realised that all was not well and I released the bombs with all speed. Whilst doing this there was a further reduction in speed and then a terrific crash.

I was then thrown forward but fortunately only received minor cuts and immediately I made for the observer's hatch, opened it, and got out on to the wing which was just about to disappear from view. I groped for the dinghy release in the wing without success, which by this time was submerged, and remember looking forward to the front of the machine hoping to see the pilot.

Unfortunately the entire front of the machine was completely under the water and the machine sank in what I estimate about a maximum of eight seconds.

A dinghy was thrown to me from one of the aircraft which was circling and I was found next day by a search party and eventually picked up and brought back to Malta by the A.S.R. launch”.

In the accident report Wg Cdr. Donald R. Shore DFC, AFC, 33015 RAF conjectured that the pilot was thrown forward by the impact of hitting the water and struck his head on the gun sight and rendered him unconscious. The position of this gun sight and proximity to the right temple has been responsible for many a case of head injury when crash landing a Beaufighter even with the safety straps fully tightened and locked back.

(1) Flt Sgt. George Pass Fargher.

Above: Courtesy of The Windsor Star, dated 14th October 1942

His brother Plt Off. James Albert Fargher J23559 was serving overseas when he enlisted in the RCAF on the 16th September 1940. It is believed that he survived the war.

(2) Fg Off. Briffett was KiA on 26th March 1943 on an operation against the Japanese in Burma. His 27 Squadron, Beaufighter VI EL286 was brought down by a Japanese fighter running into the rear of his aircraft.

Burial details:

Above: The Malta Memorial (Courtesy of the CWGC)

WO2. George Pass Fargher. Malta Memorial, Panel 4, Column 2. Born on the 26th February 1921 in Liverpool, England. Son of Albert and Martha (née Pass) Fargher of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

His promotion to Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) was effective from the 3rd July 1942.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the crew and their families (Aug 2026).

Other sources listed below:

References:

1. Malta: The Spitfire Year 1942 – Christopher Shores and Brian Cull with Nicola Malizia – ISBN:0-948817-16-X: pp 571-572

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