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Operation: Bomber Support
Date: 25/26th February 1944 (Friday/Saturday)
Unit: No. 239 Squadron
Type: Mosquito NFII
Serial: DZ270
Code: HB-Q
Base: RAF West Raynham, Norfolk, England
Location: English Channel
Pilot: F/O. ‘Tex’ Earl Allan Knight 52153 RAF Age 27. Killed
Nav: F/O. Desmond Patrick Doyle 128562 RAFVR Age 21. Missing - believed killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off from RAF West Raynham in Norfolk at 21:34 hrs on a bomber support operation
At 01:20 hrs, a very weak message was picked up by RAF North Weald from this aircraft, “Vectoring 300 – still being fired at". Nothing more was heard and it is thought that they came down in the English Channel.
This pilot had two claims to his credit, the last last a few nights previously on the 21st February 1944 - BF110. His first, whilst with 151 Squadron over Lincoln, England a Dornier 217E U5+KR of 7./KG2, flown by Lt Gunther Wolff.
Another Mosquito from 239 Squadron was also lost this night:
Mosquito II DZ247 crashed on return to RAF Raynham near Wellingham, Norfolk - the pilot, 21 year old F/O. Neil Munro 132760 RAFVR of Southgate Middlesex was killed, his Navigator, 28 year old F/O. Alec Richard Hurley 156012 RAFVR of Raynes Park, London died later - despite receiving treatment at the 53 Mobile Field Hospital at Weasenham from injuries received.
No night fighter claims for Mosquito DZ270 found to date.
Burial details:
F/O. Earl Allan Knight. Thorpe Acre Churchyard (All Saints). Husband of Margaret F. Knight (née Bullock), of Loughborough, Leicestershire, England, father to Richard Allan. Originally from Arbilla, Ontario, Canada.
F/O. Desmond Patrick Doyle. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 205. Son of Thomas Patrick and Mary Doyle, of Clapham, London, England.
Researched for Aircrew Remembered - July 2016 by Michel Beckers. With thanks to Michel Kevin for grave photo. Others the Michel Beckers collection.
MB - 16-07-2016
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Last Modified: 29 March 2021, 19:41