Operation: Shipping strike

Date: 7th December 1940 (Saturday)

Unit No: 211 Squadron, RAF Middle East, Bomber Command

Type: Blenheim I

Serial: L1535

Code: UQ:?

Base: Menidi, aka Menidi-Tatoi, Greece

Location: Lamia, Greece

Pilot: Plt Off. Guy Inglis Jerdein 42312 RAF Age 22. KiA

Obs: Sgt. James Ernest Barber 746793 RAFVR Age 21. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. John ‘Jack’ Munro 638862 RAF Age 21. KiA (1)

Sgt. John ‘Jack’ Munro.

REASON FOR LOSS:

During the day the squadron mounted two (2) operations to the same target. The first leaving at 07:10 hrs.

The second nine (9) aircraft took-off at 13:00 hrs, each loaded with 250 lb bombs. The conditions over the day had greatly changed regarding the weather was low cloud base, with severe icing.

Two (2) of the nine (9) aircraft sent were the only ones to have reached the target although they were intercepted by Luftwaffe fighters they managed to return and one large vessel claimed to have been hit. Five (5) others never reached the target and returned for various reasons.

L1535 was one (1) of two (2) aircraft from the squadron that failed to return. Enroute to the target they encountered severe weather and crashed into the hills surrounding Lamia NW of Athens killing all aboard.

The second was L4926 flown by Plt Off. Paul B. Pickersgill which was also lost due to the severe weather conditions

(1) In late 2023, Jim Stewart in Canada issued his comprehensive and moving narrative for his Uncle Jack, Sgt. John Munro, "The Uncle We Didn’t Know". He gave his kind permission, for a link to his booklet to be added to Don Clark’s 211 Squadron website.

Burial details:

The crew were initially buried at the Lamia Municipal Cemetery and finally laid to rest at the Phaleron War Cemetery on the 26th February 1945.

Plt Off. Guy Inglis Jerdein. Phaleron War Cemetery, Greece. Grave 4.B.11. Grave Inscription: “PILOT IN 211 SQDN. CRASHED 20 MILES NORTH OF LAMIA RETURNING FROM NIGHT SORTIE”.Born in the 3rd Qtr of 1918 in Sevenoaks, Kent. Son of Henry Wilton and of Flossie Selwyn (née Hiscox) Jerdein of St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex, England

On the 8th July 1939 Guy Inglis Jerdein was granted a Short Service Commission as Acting Pilot Officer (Act Plt Off). On the 15th May 1940 Act Plt Off. Jerdein was confirmed in his appointment as a Plt Off.

Sgt. James Ernest Barber. Phaleron War Cemetery, Greece, Grave 4.A.13. Grave Inscription: “AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER HIM”. Born on the 20th January 1919 in West Ham, Essex. Son of Benjamin Ernest and Mabel (née Burgess) Barber of North Weald, Essex, England.

Sgt. John ‘Jack’ Munro. Phaleron War Cemetery, Greece, Grave 4.B.12. Grave Inscription: “YEARS HAVE PASSED HOW LONG IT SEEMS BUT IN OUR HEARTS HIS FACE STILL BEAMS”. Born on the 29th January 1919 in Lossiemouth. Son of John and Jane Munro of Lossiemouth, Morayshire, Scotland.

John Munro is also remembered on the Lossiemouth War Memorial.

Researched Kate Tame for Aircrew Remembered and for all the relatives and friends of the crew. With special thanks to Antonelos CH. Athanasios, Lossiemouth Book of Remembrance (Jan 2025). Thanks to Don Clark for the link to his website. Other updates by Aircrew Remembered (Oct 2025).

Other sources list below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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