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Operation: Ground attack
Date: 07th July 1941 (Monday)
Unit: No. 73 Squadron (214 Group)
Type: Hurricane I
Serial: W9197
Code: TP-?
Base: Sidi Haneish, Egypt
Location: Near Bardiya, Libya
Pilot: Sgt. Gordon Archibald Jupp 785002 RAFVR Age 28. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
With the great research carried out by Errol Martyn on the Royal New Zealand Airforce losses we have been able to compile this page. If you have further information and or photographs we would welcome contact from you.
6 Hurricanes from 73 Squadron took off from RAF Sidi Heneish at around 17:30 hrs after refuelling. The target was to be enemy ground targets at Kambut. Top cover was provided by members of 229 Squadron.
Red Section: Fl/Lt. Percy Green , P/O. Rodney White.
Blue section: Fl/Lt. Aidan Crawley, P/O. Stephen Leach.
Yellow section: P/O. Michael Wareham, Sgt. Gordon Jupp.![]()
However, they mistakenly started an attack on an airfield west of Sidi Azeiz which is about 35 km south east of the target area. Realising their mistake Blue 1 did a steep turn heading to the correct target, this resulted in confusion and the others straggling. Red section was left behind P/O. Wareham stated that was the last he saw of them. Shortly afterwards he saw a column of black smoke rising some distance behind him.
Blue and Yellow sections then attacked the target in line abreast and then continued to attack transport columns and troop concentrations. P/O. Wareham was hit by a canon shell in the fuselage, he saw one of the Hurricanes crash land at about 15 km north east of Kambut and saw another circling the position. He continued to fly very low and flew back to base.
5 of the Hurricanes never returned. It is thought that all had been hit by anti-aircraft fire.
P/O. Stephen Leach was shot down in Hurricane Z4649 - died of his injuries the following day. Sgt. Gordon Jupp in Hurricane W9197 also shot down - died of his injuries the following day. P/O. Rodney William Kinross White flying Hurricane V7757 - missing believed killed. Fl/Lt. Aidan Merivale Crawley Hurricane V7802 (1) and Fl/Lt. Percy Oliver Valentine Green flying Hurricane Z4173 (2) shot down, survived and taken PoW. P/O. Michel Percy Wareham in Hurricane Z4773 (3) returned to base - alone.
(1) Aidan Merivale Crawley survived the war as a PoW. Awarded the MBE. Member of Parliament. Editor-in-chief for ITN. Died on the 03rd November 1993 age 85.
(2) Percy Oliver Valentine Green evaded capture for 7 days before being captured. Whilst being held captive in hospital he escaped only to be caught a week later. Eventually sent to Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria where he was held until the 'Long March'. Retired in 1973 as Air Commodore. Named Executive Managing Director of the Woburn Golf and Country Club. In 1985 he formed the recreational sports company, Green, Spier and Partners with others before leaving in January 1987 moving to Australia. No further details.
(3) Michel Percy Wareham DFC remained in the RAF after the war. On the 16th November 1949 at the age of 31, he was an examiner based at the RAF Central Flying School when whilst flying with 24 year old, Lt. Kenneth Patrick Shallow of the Royal Navy. The Firefly I DV133 crashed after the pilot lowered the undercarriage and flaps - thought to be for a stall demonstration - but the aircraft stalled and spun crashing at RAF Milltown, Scotland killing both crew members.
Burial details:
Sgt. Jump and P/O. Leach were initially buried at Bardiya in Libya - reinterred after the end of the war - together in war, together they are buried.
Sgt. Gordon Archibald Jupp. Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery. Joint grave 20.F.10. Son of the Very Revd. George Henry Jupp and Margaret Jupp, of Oamaru, Otago, New Zealand. (B.Sc., B.Eng., A.O.S.M) 235 flying hours logged and had completed 19 operational sorties. Grave inscription reads: "Life Is Ever Lord Of Death And Love Can Never Lose Its Own".
26 year old, P/O. Rodney William Kinross White 65512 RAFVR. Alamein Memorial. Panel 241. Son of William Kinross White and Sarah Hyde White, of Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. (B.A. Oxon)
25 year old, P/O. Stephen John Leach 65510. RAFVR. Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery. Joint grave 20.F.10. Son of Stephen E. Leach, and of Gertrude Leach, of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. (B.A. University of Melbourne) Grave inscription reads: "In Proud, Loving Memory Of A Dear Son & Brother Who Gave His Life That We Might Live".
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 War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:
KTY - 06.01.2018
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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