AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

• Kracker Archive
• Allied Losses
• Archiwum Polish
• Paradie Canadian
• RCAF
• RAAF
• RNZAF
• USA
• Searchable Lists

Info LogoAdd to or correct this story with a few clicks.
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.
Check our Research databases: Database List

.

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.

124 Squadron Crest
17.02.1943 No. 124 Squadron Spitfire VI BR571 Sgt. B.M. Hirstich

Operation: Circus 269 (1)

Date: 17th February 1943 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 124 Squadron (11 Group - Motto: "Danger is our opportunity")

Type: Spitfire VI

Serial: BR571

Code: ON-?

Base: RAF North Weald, Essex

Location: near Calais, France

Pilot: Sgt. Bruce Mackenzie Hirstich NZ/41430 RNZAF Age 20. Injured - PoW

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 09:55 hrs with the Squadron on Circus 269 escorting 12 Ventura’s which failed to reach the target at Dunkirk.

The squadron ere engaged in heavy combat with enemy fighters. Sgt. Hirstich was seriously injured during the attack but still managed to bale out of his Spitfire. Taken PoW but sadly died from his wounds 3 days later on Saturday 20th February.

The Squadron lost 4 pilots during this operation, the others:

Spitfire VI AB533 Flown by 22 year old, F/O. Bernard John Hull DFM. 126860 RAFVR from Kingston Vale, Surrey, England - missing believed killed. Remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 125.

Spitfire VI AB498 Flown by F/O. B.R. Murphy 119286 RAFVR Shot down and evaded capture. Returned home via Spain and Gibraltar with the assistance from the Comet Line on the 15th August 1943. Awarded MiD on the 14th June 1943 for his efforts.

Spitfire VI BR585 Flown by Fl/Lt. Frederick Gerald Hudson Chalk DFC. 81389 RAFVR from Cooden Beach, Sussex, England, initially missing believed killed. In 1989 his body was recovered and a positive identification was made after a body was exhumed - buried at Terlincthun British Cemetery on the 30th June 1989. He was widely known in pre-war Cricketing circles having captained the Oxford University team and later went on to captain Kent.

(1) Circus: Medium bombers (Blenheim IV, Ventura etc) heavily escorted by fighters by day over occupied territory, with the aim of drawing up Luftwaffe fighters for combat.

Burial details:

Sgt. Bruce Mackenzie Hirstich. Pihen-Le-Guines War Cemetery. Grave 1.B.10. Son of Frank and Adah Caroline Elizabeth Hirstich (née Worden), of 2 Cadman Avenue, Green Lane, Auckland, New Zealand. Educated at Pukekohe High School and New Plymouth Boys' High School. We understand that the correct method of his surname is Hrstich - the family explained to us that this is the original Croation spelling of the name. Bruce’s father (a decorated WW1 soldier) changed the family name to make it easier for others to pronounce although other members of the Hrstich it seemed to have not have approved of this.

Others:

F/O. Bernard John Hull DFM. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 125. Son of Daniel and Louise Hull, of Kingston Vale, Surrey, England. His DFM published in the London Gazette 24th July 1942:

"Fl/Sgt. Hull has been with No.124 Squadron at Biggin Hill and latterly Gravesend since November 1941. During that time he has completed 42 fighter sweeps and has scored three destroyed enemy aircraft. His determination to engage the enemy is always most apparent."

Fl/Lt. Frederick Gerald Hudson Chalk DFC. Terlincthun British Cemetery. Plot 14. Row F. Grave 12. Son of Arthur and Edith Blanche Clarissa Chalk, of Cooden Beach, Sussex and husband of Rosemary Chalk. B.A. Oxon. His DFC published in the London Gazette 04th July 1941:

"One night in June, 1941, this officer was the rear gunner of an aircraft which took part in an attack on Hanover. On the return journey, whilst over the Amsterdam area, the aircraft was attacked by a Messerschmitt 110 which pressed home two attacks from close range. In the face of accurate cannon and machine gun fire from the enemy, P/O. Chalk fired two steady bursts which were observed to enter the enemy aircraft causing it to break away with flames coming from the starboard side. By his cool and accurate fire, P/O. Chalk undoubtedly saved his aircraft and probably destroyed the attacker. Since February 1941, this officer has participated in 20 operational missions and has shown high courage and devotion to duty throughout."

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 Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand. Also, with many thanks to Stefan Vodanovich - relative of the pilot. Other sources as quoted below:

KTY - 06.09.2017

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
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.
Click any image to enlarge it

Click to add your info via ticket on Helpdesk •Click to let us know via ticket on Helpdesk• Click to explore the entire site
If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2024
Last Modified: 24 March 2021, 13:34

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor