Operation: Armed Recce/ Transfer to England

Date: 29th September 1944 (Friday)

Unit No: 453 Squadron RAAF (motto: 'Ready to strike'), 125 Wing, 2nd Tactical Air Force

Type: Spitfire LF.IXb

Serial: MJ223

Code: VZ:N

Base: ALG B.70 (Antwerp), Belgium

Location: Ostend area

Pilot: Fg Off. James Humphrey Ferguson 403917 RAAF Age 23. PoW

Above: Fg Off. Ferguson sitting in a Spitfire at ALG B.70 from where 453 Sqn were providing fighter cover to the Airborne Forces during Operation Market Garden (Courtesy Michael Ferguson-Kang)

From the visible markings (No invasion stripes) it appears that this was FU:U. Research has confirmed that this was Spitfire LF.XI PL438 which was transferred to 412 Sqn when 453 Sqn returned to England.

Note: Fg Off. Ferguson's recorded fighter claims:

On the 27th June 1943, flying a Spitfire IX on a Rodeo mission he was flying south of St. Omer when the section encountered 4 Bf-109s. 2 were shot down, 1 Bf-109 being claimed by Fg Off. Ferguson as destroyed;
On the 25th July 1943, flying a Spitfire Vc on a Ramrod mission in the Ghent area he encountered a lone Fw-190. He fired two successive short bursts and saw the Fw-190 in a steep dive with what appeared to be the canopy fluttering down behind. He claimed this Fw-190 as damaged;
On the 2nd August 1944, flying a Spitfire IXe, PL254, on an Armed Recce in the Tinchebray area his section encountered 12 Bf-109s. They attacked the enemy aircraft and Fg Off. Ferguson fired three bursts at one of the aircraft and observed strikes on the starboard wing root and a large object fall off which may have been the canopy. He claimed this Bf-109 as damaged.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from Advanced Landing Ground (AGL) B.70 with 10 others from the Sqn at 17:00 hrs. Some publications state that they were on an armed recce, however, Sqn records indicate that they were relocating to RAF Coltishall in Norfolk.

They were routed to cross the coast over Ostend and it was when they were flying over the City at between 1000 - 1800 ft they encountered light flak. Fg Off. Leith noticed smoke coming from MJ223 which then turned inland. Flames were then observed from the Spitfire - seconds later a large explosion was seen in the area that Fg Off. Ferguson was flying at around 500 ft. No communications were made by the pilot and no parachute was seen to deploy.

Michael Ferguson-Kang, the grandson of Fg Off. Ferguson informs us that Sqn was was returning to RAF Coltishall having been re-assigned to take part in the Air Defence of Great Britain (ADGB). They had swapped out their Spitfire IXe’s that morning to be left behind for 126 Wing and flew Spitfire IXb’s from the Wing back to England. According to his logbook, his aircraft Squadron/aircraft code was VZ:N, which was the designation for 412 Sqn.

The flak that hit his engine also destroyed his rudder controls. After his engine caught fire (the flash that the squadron pilot's saw) he spotted a field filled with invasion poles. Managing to belly-land his Spitfire between the poles he was knocked out. He came round in a burning plane and jumped out as fast as he could before being floored by his RT and oxygen mask that were still plugged in. He then sought shelter in a French farmhouse where the farmer celebrated his arrival by serving him up glasses of liquor.

Unfortunately, the Germans turned up and broke up the party and he was kept in a PoW camp (the Germans actually utilised the local prison) at Dunkirk which the Germans held on to under siege by the allies until the end of the war.

S/Sgt. Ernest F. Robertson 14154046 USAAF was shot down on the 14th February 1945 aboard B-17G 43-38735 'Flat Top' (92 BG, 407 BS) and was the only survivor. He was captured and held in the Dunkirk prison where it was reported that he met with a number of PoWs including Fg Off. Ferguson.

He was returned to the Allies in a prisoner exchange on the 15th of April 1945.

The Squadron were so sure that he had been lost, the Commanding Officer, Sqn Ldr. Esau, wrote to his parents on the 1st October explaining that he was missing in action and believed killed, his personal effects had been collected in order to return them to his family.

Burial details:

None - survived the war as a PoW.

Born on the 9th January 1921 at Rupanyup, Victoria, Australia. The son of Mr. Alexander Royston Ferguson of 107 Frederick Street, Merewether, New South Wales, Australia.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the Pilot and his family (Sep 2019). Photographs courtesy Paul Watts (Father served with 453 Squadron - many photographs received). Thanks to Michael Ferguson-Kang for the additional information (Oct 2022). Further updates by Aircrew Remembered (Oct 2022). Thanks to Michael Ferguson-Kang for the amazing colourised photograph of Fg Off. Ferguson. (Oct 2022).

Other sources shown below.

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