Operation: Armed reconnaissances

Date: 26th July 1944 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 13 Squadron (motto: Adjuvamus tuendo- 'We assist by watching') 23 Wing, Desert Air Force - Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force.

Type: Martin Baltimore V (A-30)

Serial: FW317

Code: AN-Z

Base: Cessina. Italy

Location:

Pilot: Fl/Lt. David Drexel Laird J/21258 RCAF Age 26. Killed

Nav: F/O. James Phillips McCarter 130567 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: W/O. Jack Finlow NZ/40561 RNZAF Age 24. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: W/O. Frank Wallace West Aus/405987 RAAF Age 26. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 22:15 hrs with six others on an armed reconnaissance along the Flprence - Bologne road.

Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it failed to return to base. Two other aircraft from the Squadron on the same mission reported seeing an aircraft crash at 23:18 hours in the Pontassieve area.

The weather was fine with a moonlight night, no cloud and good visibility. No 5 Missing Research and Enquiry Unit reported in 1947 that the 'wreck of FW317 was located near Firenzuola, and according to a farmer on whose land the aircraft crashed the crew of four was killed'.

Burial details:

Three of the unidentified crew were initially buried in the square outside the main gate at Firenzuola. After the end of hostilities they were transfer to an American Cemetery at Vada, then moved again to a French Cemetery at Romme on believing they were a misidentified French crew. The fourth body was discovered near the crash scene much later and buried at Florence before bringing them together with the others and reinterred in a collective grave at Anzio.

Fl/Lt. David Drexel Laird. Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio. Collective. grave XVIII. J. 7-10. Born on the 20th September 1919 inIowa, United States of America. Son of Donald Anderson Laird (died 20th December 1969, age 72) and Son of Dr. Donald Anderson Laird (died 20th December 1969, age 72) and Hilda Drexel Laird (née Drechsel - died 29th January 1938, age 42)

(Fl/Lt. David Drexel Laird shown left)

David Drexel Laird was the stepson of Eleanor Childs Wiren (née Leonard - died 09th January 1999, aged 90) of Indiana, United States of America.

(Eleanor Childs Wiren shown left)

F/O. James Phillips McCarter. Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio. Collective. grave XVIII. J. 7-10. Son of Robert A. H. and Margaret M. P. McCarter, of Edinburgh, Scotland. Epitaph: 'One Of The Brave Who Answered The Call For Those He Loved He Gave'.

W/O. Jack Finlow. Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio. Collective. grave XVIII. J. 7-10.Born on the 26th February 1920 in Auckland. Worked as a carpenter and motor body builder. Enlisted on the 23rd February 1940. Son of John Henr 25 Jan 1956 (aged 74 y and Elizabeth Goodison Finlow (née Howard - died 12 Sep 1971 J(aged 90, of South Titirang Road,Auckland City, New Zealand. A total of 407 flying hours logged and completed 49 operational sorties. .

(W/O. Jack Finlow shown right)

W/O. Frank Wallace West . Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio. Collective. grave XVIII. J. 7-10. Born on the 13th October 1919 in Ipswich Queensland, Australia. Worked as a radio mechanic prior to service. Enisted on the 20th July 1941. Son of Archibald Harold (died 22nd May 1950 age 60) and Lydia Sarah Wes (died on the 02nd June 1967 age 76), of 12 Musgrave Street, Toowong, Queensland, Australia. Epitaph: 'Thy Will Be Done'.

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”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, National Archive Kew AIR-27-182-7/8. Canadian Government WW2 Service Records

Other sources as quoted below:

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