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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.
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18 crest

Operation: Anti-shipping

Date: 13th of December 1941 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 18 Squadron (motto: Animo et fide - 'With courage and faith')

Type: Blenheim IV

Serial: Z7858

Code: WV-M

Base: Luqa, Malta

Location: Mediterranean Sea

Pilot: Sgt. Frank Jury RAFVR Survived - injured

Obs: Sgt. Thomas L.G. Black RAFVR Survived - injured

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Dennis J. Mortimer RAFVR Survived

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking of from Luqa, one of six taking part to attack shipping in Argostoli harbour in Kefalonia. At anchor were three motor vessels and five navigation class destroyers.

During the return trip they were attacked (some reports state it was Lt. Herbert Hass in a Bf109, others state the aircraft as a Macchi C.202, Italian fighter aircraft).

The port engine was hit so the pilot headed for Luqa airfield, he could not land as a Wellington had moved into its path. He decided that the only option was to ditch the Blenheim as close to the shore as possible.

He noticed a fishing boat off Dellimara and ditched close to it. The ditching went well although two of the crew suffered slight head injuries. The Maltse fishing boat 'Dghajsa' picked up the crew and returned to the Island.

Above L-R: Sgt. Mortimer, Sgt. Black and Sgt. Jury taken shortly after their lucky escape.

The wreckage sank and today it is a popular amateur dive site with the wreckage lying in about 30 metres.

Burial details:

None - all survived

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to David Gunby and Pelham Temple 'Bomber Losses In The Middle East And Mediterranean', other sources as quoted below:

KTY 23-03-2021

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Acknowledgements
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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 Captain 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', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, 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.
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