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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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611 Squadron Crest
08.07.1941 No. 611 Squadron Spitfire V R2277 Sgt. Feely

Operation: Escort

Date: 08th July 1941 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 611 Squadron (11 Group)

Type: Spitfire V

Serial: R7277

Code: FY-?

Base: RAF Hornchurch, Essex

Location: Lost without trace

Pilot: Sgt. Brian William Feely NZ/39788 RNZAF Age 23. Missing - believed killed


The family are keen to trace his medals and if possible to have them returned. Please contact us or Medals Reunited New Zealand on link shown. A reward for these items maybe available.


REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Hornchurch in Essex at 14:40 hrs to escort 3 Stirlings to Lille in France.

No further details as to his loss and we welcome any further information.

During this day on various operational sorties 5 pilots were killed, 4 were taken PoW, 3 suffered injuries but managed to return, 1 evaded capture, 1 baled out safely and another ditched near the Goodwin Sands.

The medals that are missing are 1939/45 Star, Aircrew Europe Star, 1939/45 War Medal, Defence Medal, 1939/45 NZ War Service Medal + Memorial Cross as advised by Medals Reunited New Zealand.

(Note: if you do find any service men/women New Zealand Medals please advise as the relatives maybe seeking them - we are working closely with Medals Reunited New Zealand and maybe able to assist in their return)

Left: Panel 64 Runnymede Memorial

Burial details:

Sgt. Brian William Feely. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 64. Born on the 24th April 1918 in Petone, Lower Hutt, New Zealand. Son to William Patrick Feely of Petone, Wellington, New Zealand. A total of 273 flying hours logged and on his 53rd operational sortie.

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, also to Medals Reunited New Zealand for details on medals. Thanks to Owen Smith for providing NoK details, other sources as quoted below:

RS 23.05.2019 - Update to NoK details

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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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