Operation: Escort

Date: 08th February 1942 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 112 Squadron (motto: 'Swift in Destruction'). 258 Wing. Western Desert.

Type: Kittyhawk I

Serial: AK585

Code: GA-O

Base: Gambut, Libya

Location: Gulf of Bomba, Libya

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Brian Patrick Hoare NZ/404365 RNZAF Age 20. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 12:50 hrs. with 5 others from the squadron to escort 11 Blenheims that were to bomb Derna on the coast. 3 and 73 squadron were to provide top cover on their return but were intercepted by 109's.

112 squadron were forced to fight a rearguard action to defend the bombers. 26 year old Sgt. Henry George Burney Aus/402345 RAAF flying AK702 destroyed a Me109 and shared another with P/O. Peter Harry Humphreys 84961 RAF flying AK682.

Sadly Fl/Sgt. Hoare was shot down in the Gulf of Bomba thought to have been by Otto Schultz of 4./JG27 at 14:30 hrs. Also lost was 25 year old, Fl/Sgt. Guy Wilton Elwell 1160921 RAFVR in AK593 claimed by Mjr. Gerhard Homuth at 14:32 hrs and 21 year old, Sgt. Alexander Tait Donkin 1055285 RAFVR flying AK652 GA-D claimed by Hans Joachim Marseille at 14:30 hrs.

Burial and personal details:

Fl/Sgt. Brian Patrick Hoare. Alamein Memorial. Column 265. Born on the 03rd September 1921 at Hawera. Educated at St. Patrick's College. Worked as a clerk for Agricultural aDepartment at Palmerston NorthMiddle District Aero Club as a pilot under training on 1939. Enlisted at Levin on the 24th November 1940. No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School 26th December 1940. Embarked for Canada on the 27th February 1941. Trained at No. 6 Service Flying Training School 20th March 1941. Pilot badge awarded and promoted to sergeant on the 09th June 1941. Embarked for England 20th June 1941. Further training with 52 Operational Training Unit on 14th July 1941 flying the Hurricane at Debden. Joined 17 squadron 01st September 1941. Embarked for Gold Coast in October them bt air to Egypt via Sudan. Joined 112 squadron flying the Kittyhawks on the 26th November 1941 carrying out 24 operational sorties. Son of James Patrick (died 30th August 1955, age 55) and Imilda Hoare (née Jury - died 11th November 1970, age 70). Parents married on the 28th March 1921. Total of 269 flying hours logged.

Others:

Fl/Sgt. Guy Wilton Elwell. Alamein Memorial. Column 249. Son of Leslie E. and Lilian M. Elwell, of Sutton St. Nicholas, Lincolnshire, England.

Sgt. Alexander Tait Donkin. Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma. Grave 12. B. 14. Son of John Dixon and Marian Strangeways Donkin (née Tait - died 20th May 1945, age 49), of Ashington, Northumberland, England. John Dixon Donkin founded Donkin Bakers in Ashington in 1922. Still trading today as Bakers Pantry. Epitaph: 'Rest Eternal Grant Unto Him, O Lord And Let Light Perpetual Shine Upon Him'.

Later on 30th May 1942 flying Kittyhawk AK772:

Sgt. Henry George Burney. Alamein Memorial. Column 265. Born on the 06th December 1915 at Croydon, NewSouth Wales. Worked as a share broker clerk for Joseph Palmer and Sons in Sydney. Enlisted on the 19th August 1940. Joined 112 squadron on the 31st March 1942 Son of Charles William David and Mary Ellen Burney, of 6 Les Street, Croydon, New South Wales, Australia

Later on the 11th November 1947 on Lancaster TW647:

Sq/Ldr. Peter Harry Humphreys (age 27). DFC. Bournemouth Crematorium. Panel 2. Born on the 01st May 1920 in Lymington. Educated at Peter Symonds School, Winchester. Joined 112 squadron on the 03rd November 1941. Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Humphreys, of Lymington, Hampshire, England.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, Kracker Archive, other sources as quoted below:

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