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Operation: Tank attack
Date: 27th April 1943 (Tuesday)
Unit: No. 241 Squadron. 324 Wing, 242 Group, North African Tactical Air Force
Type: Hurricane IIC
Serial: HW745
Code: RZ-?
Base: Souk El Khemis Tunisia (now Algeria)
Location: Pont du Fahas
Pilot: Fl/Lt. Joseph Aylmer Hamlet Aus/403584 RAAF Age 25. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Take off at 13:40 hrs. with 11 other Hurribombers tasked with attacking eight Tiger tanks about 6 miles north of Pont du Fahas.
He was seen to be hit by anti-aircraft fire and bursting into flames and crashing into the enemy positions at 14:15 hrs. His body eventually found by the 56 Heavy Regiment and buried near Pont du Fahas and the Tunis road. Reinterred later at the Enfidaville War Cemetery.
Just two days earlier he had been involved in a forced landing, but returned safe the following day.
Burial details:
Fl/Lt. Joseph Aylmer Hamlet. Enfidaville War Cemetery. Grave V.F. 29. Born on the 08th October 1917 at Christchurch, New Zealand - moved to Australia. Worked as a shipping clerk for the Matson Navigation Company prior to service. Enlisted 23rd July 1940 in Sydney. Received Pilots Badge 19th December 1941. Son of Joseph William and Lydia Maud Hamlet , of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. Grave inscription: 'His Duty Nobly Done. His Courage Supreme'. He was registered with the name of Thomas William Aylmer Hamlet but wished to be known as Joseph Aylmer Hamlet while serving with the Royal Australian Air Force.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot 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, Weekly News of New Zealand, NAA, other sources as quoted below:
KTY 28-01-2021
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them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 09 May 2021, 12:24